Enae chooses not to tell everyone that the woman with Mr. Nadkal attacked hir. Seimet introduces the woman as Ideni Ismor.

Qven tells the committee eir story, including Dlar’s statement that if they do not drop their petition, they will be killed. This shocks everyone, especially the Rrrrrr. The consensus is that if Reet and Qven match, their futures will necessarily be legally intertwined, so it makes sense for Qven to be added to the petition for human status.

Reet gives a speech about his connection to his family. Regardless of what his DNA says, he knows his parents and siblings will always be his true family. Agagag describes a case where a human individual petitioned to become legally Geck. That person maintained human relationships without issue; Reet could do the same. Sphene also speaks up in Reet’s favor, but Dlar claims that Reet and Qven pose a danger to humans, and that if the Presger feel that the treaty has been violated, they could kill everyone.

Dlar notes that Qven has killed and eaten a lot of other Translator juveniles; if Reet and Qven join human society, they could harm humans. Seimet backs Dlar up by suggesting that Reet has been associating with Hikipi extremists; this is why she has brought Mr.