Grace, now older and using a cane, reflects on his early, malnourished years on Erid sustained by Taumoeba alone. Eridian thrums coordinated planet-wide efforts to keep him alive, synthesizing vitamins, improving flavors, and eventually cloning his muscle tissue so he can eat “meburgers.” He lives in a clear-xenonite dome with a human-friendly day-night light cycle, supported by teams outside in Erid’s atmosphere.

He meets Rocky in a small interface room. Rocky, buzzing with excitement, relays the Astronomy hive’s result: Sol has returned to full luminance. Grace breaks down in happy tears, and they share a celebratory fist-bump through the xenonite. They note the timeline implies Earth acted quickly after receiving the beetles. Though the Eridians can refuel Hail Mary, Grace is unsure about returning; Rocky selfishly hopes he stays.

As they part, Rocky mentions tending to Adrian and asks about other life. The friends consider a panspermia-like origin: an Astrophage ancestor may have seeded both systems, implying life could be common near Tau Ceti. They appreciate the improbability yet significance of their own meeting.

Walking the dark perimeter of his dome, Grace wonders how Earth fared—whether humanity cooperated or suffered—but concludes they must have retrieved the beetles and executed a Venus-based solution. He resolves that he may go home someday, but not yet.

Grace enters his favorite meeting space: a classroom split by xenonite. Thirty young Eridians await. Using an organ-like keyboard that conveys Eridian speech nuances, he begins the lesson, asking the class for the speed of light.