an artificial womb. Thorn and Duun are transported to the capital of Dsonan. Thorn begins training with different Shonun tutors, learning about mathematics and the history of Shonun air travel. He is asked to listen to tapes and replicate the strange sounds on them. Under more experiments, he has visions of beings that look like himself, and eventually comes to understand the sounds as a language. Thorn completes his training and passes the final tests to be officially recognized as a Hatani. Afterwards, Thorn and Duun are transported to space stations, pursued by enemies who want control of Thorn for their political means. At last, Duun tells Thorn the truth of his origins. Duun describes the first contact between the Shonunin and aliens, which occurred when a damaged alien probe entered the Shonunin's home system. The contact turned violent. It was not clear who fired the first shot, but the Shonunin, who had only recently become capable of interstellar travel themselves, chased the damaged alien ship, which had lost the ability to jump through hyperspace, for two years before overpowering it. They found only one of the crew alive, a man who was able to injure Duun before being killed. The Shonunin knew the probe had been sending messages out of the solar system and now feared retribution from the technologically superior aliens. Duun was charged with the task of saving the Shonunin world from the potential threat the aliens posed, and as a Hatani was given absolute control and resources for his plan. Duun's solution was to raise an alien child to adulthood who could serve as an emissary to his race when contact was made again, and hopefully prevent a major conflict. Scientists cloned the alien Duun killed to produce the alien child. Raising an alien and the enemy in their midst frightened the Shonunin, but Duun elected to undertake the task himself, uncertain whether the creature would turn on him. By raising Thorn under the Hatani code, Duun has made Thorn part of the framework of Shonunin society and prepared him for his eventual ambassadorial duties. The aliens have been sending messages back to the Shonunin works for several years. Thorn reconciles his origins with his relationship with Duun and the Shonunin. He sends out his first interstellar message in the alien language, saying hello. Main characters Dana Duun Shtoni no Lughn (Duun) – a Shonun of