"I promise that this is just the beginning of the relationship between our two peoples," said Littlecrow, to the crowd "But for now we would like to take Professor Myron aboard the Armstrong to have a look at how we live the way Ensign Takahashi and I have been experiencing your planet. We can accommodate a larger gathering later."

The dignitaries were all very offended, but they didn't argue with the Captain. She, Takahashi, and Galen climbed up in to the Vostok and headed up towards an Armstrong that wasn't really there.

"Prepare yourself, Galen," said Littlecrow "What happens next is going to be traumatic."

* * *

Galen awoke choking as a feeding tube was removed from his mouth. He felt dizzy and cold and most of all weak. He tried to say something but all he could do was spit and rasp. His vision was too blurry to make out anything but bright shapes. It hurt too much to keep his eyes open. Not just his eyes, everything hurt. He closed his eyes. He either fell asleep or passed out.

He came to again in some kind of a hospital room. His body still ached all over and his eyes still hurt when he opened them but it was a distant sort of pain, not as intense as before. Galen tried to move his hand and he was actually able to coax a small amount of movement from it.

"Is anybody there?" he was able to croak, with his raspy voice.

"Try not to speak," said a female voice "You need to rest. You just underwent a high intensity rejuvenation program. If you overextend yourself now the whole thing could end up doing more harm than good."

Galen had too many questions to rest. He immediately fell asleep again.

He drifted in and out of consciousness for many hours or days or some other measurement of time. The next time he had a coherent thought someone was trying to explain to him what had happened. It was the voice from before.

"We took about ten years of aging off your body, restored your muscle tone, distributed nutrients throughout your system, rebuilt your bone density, and basically gave you a whole new immune system."

"So why do I still feel like shit?" asked Galen.

"You're used to living in a simulation," explained Nurse Tan "The fidelity of all the little aches and pains of existence is rarely very high in those things. You'll get used to it."

"Will I be able to walk soon?" asked Galen.

"Oh yes. You should be able to now. We gave you the muscle memory you'll need to be able to walk around and everything. Just don't expect to still be able to play any musical instruments."

"Can I speak with Alexandria Littlecrow?" asked Galen.

"I was just about to page her," said Nurse Tan "She was having me keep her abreast of your status."

* * *

"Hello Galen," said Littlecrow, while Galen still lay prone on his bed in sick bay.

"Hello Alexandria," replied Galen "I wish our first meeting in the real world were under more dignified circumstances for myself."

"Are you well enough to walk?" she asked.

"So I'm told," said Galen "I haven't tried yet."

"I've brought you some clothes," said Littlecrow "Why don't you get changed and I can show you around the ship."

Maybe it was the fact that they were real, but the clothes Littlecrow had brought him were the most comfortable Galen had ever worn. Perfectly tailored and the precise same shade of brown as the suit he wore when he 'met' with Littlecrow in the simulation.

* * *

Littlecrow brought her new guest through the halls, which were amazing enough to Galen, and into the bridge. There on the main screen, for the first time in his life, Galen saw his home planet from orbit. It didn't look anything like he had pictured. Ugly, brown and used up.

He briefly wept, but composed himself.

"This is what your planet looks like in real life," explained Littlecrow, putting her hand on Galen's shoulder "This is the situation: Zethes is a radioactive wasteland. There are a million of people inside life support pods stacked up like cargo in a space station in orbit. The world as you know it is a virtual reality simulation being experienced by these people."

"Consider me convinced, Alexandria," said Galen "So what can we do about it?"

"We can support a few hundred people on the Armstrong at best. There is no way we could move your people to a new home. We do, however, have the means to help you set up a simple enclosed colony on the planet below. It will be a cramped and hard life but it will be real life."

"How many people did you say were on the space station?" asked Galen, suddenly.

"Roughly one million," said Littlecrow.

"There are more than five million people living on Zethes," said Galen "Where are the rest of the people?"

Littlecrow was at a loss for words. She honestly had no idea.

"Where are the rest of the people?" repeated Galen.