:D

I feel for Nolan. It's not pride per say as just not wanting to be lead into a trap it seems.

I cant say I blame Nolan. As for Ethan, I hope Thari is in touch with his Empathy.

Just as before, there's a lot to love in this chapter.

I love the thought you've put into the subtle things, as seen when Thari first introduces himself, for certain species upon their first direct interaction outside a formal setting. You've clearly put a lot of thought and passion into your story building.

I also like how you're already exploring themes such as the feeling that the world has suddenly gotten a whole lot smaller with the adoption of humanity into the UTO, effectively becoming part of a galactic village, just as we'd become a global one with the advent of the internet. As is true for much sci-fi, projections of the future are seen in the ripples of the past. Any major change will come with its fair share of hopes and anxieties, and it’s nice to see both sides being explored.

There’s also a much more psychological element scaled up, namely the way traumatic experiences can come to define a survivor, even in the eyes of those who wish to help. It’s one of those incredibly difficult things to approach in real life; failing to acknowledge something enough and it feels like erasure (making you feel like a burden in your needs) whilst focusing on it too much can feel infantilizing (making you feel broken). Even as a survivor, it can feel like your own mind is being pulled in two different directions. I had never considered approaching the topic on a societal level before, and I think it’s a great way to explore the many different ways people react differently under such circumstances.

I’m still very excited to see where you take Em, Nolan, and Zhylara Thae’Mirr, as well as Thari Ennvim.