Part 2, First Half (Virginia, Carl, Saul, Virginia) Summary

Virginia is in her computer lab watching video of the comet's passage. She is connected to a surface mech and controlling its movements. JonVon contacts her and asks if he can assume a simulated personality for her. She directs it to find out what personal items the other crew members have brought with them instead. Lani Nguyen is with her. She hopes that some of the comet will be preserved, but knows that most spacers think it should be used completely. Lani thanks Virginia for arranging to have Lani awake on the crew's first watch. Then, she asks Virginia her opinion on the Birth and Child Laws recently passed on Earth. These laws restrict children from being born in space, and Lani is concerned that in order to have them, she...