One afternoon, they were in Richard Starlight’s office. Richard had not had an opportunity to hear the Starmen’s entire story from beginning to end. He had invited them to join him, John Rwakatare, Robert Nolan, and Beowulf Denn for a relaxing afternoon so that the top four leaders of Starlight Enterprise and Nolan Mining Enterprise could hear firsthand the complete tale of the Starmen’s adventures. Tea and coffee were provided in a luxurious silver service that had been in Richard’s family for generations--one of the few heirlooms that had been preserved through the Collapse. On the silverware was engraved the letter “R,” the only clue to Richard’s surname that still existed. Nearly a century earlier, before founding Starlight Enterprise Richard’s father Thomas had changed his name to “Starlight” and destroyed all records that spoke of his past. After the three Starmen had finished recounting their adventures, no one spoke for a long time. Joe poured himself a fresh cup of tea. Most of them gazed out of the panoramic window at the desolate beauty of the lunar landscape. At length Richard said, “Starmen, you’ve had some exciting adventures, and in them you’ve gained something valuable and lasting: you are now a team. You’ve learned how to work together, how to think like Starmen and act like Starmen. You’re experienced, proven Starmen now! You managed to escape from the clutches of the most dangerous, crazed maniac our century has ever seen. And you’ve had contact, however fleeting, with the second intelligent extra-terrestrial race that Earth has met--certainly ahead of the Titanians and far ahead of us! “But as far as Starman’s work goes, keep in mind that your adventures were the exception, not the rule. I know you’ve got exciting careers ahead, all three of you! You’re three brilliant Starmen and you’re a credit to Starlight Enterprise--but your next adventure could be as unglamorous as mapping geological samples in the canyons of Mercury.” “What will happen to Gene?” asked Mark. “He will be tried with the rest of the pirates. His assistance in turning the asteroid aside and the intercession of Jesus Madera will probably stand him in good stead when his sentence is pronounced.” “What of the aliens aboard the asteroid, sir?” “Well, maybe they’re still there and maybe they’re not. We saw no trace of them after your first encounter. My guess is that there were just the two of them, maybe a few more, and that they departed from the asteroid about the time you did. We have plenty of time now to explore the entire asteroid, and if they’re there, we’ll find them; and if not, we’ll find whatever traces there are to be found!” But Richard was wrong. Nothing and no one on Earth had the capability of finding and entering the inner sanctum on the asteroid. The revelation of the alien inhabitants would come only if and when the aliens wished it, and even Richard Starlight could not determine or predict when that might be.