Chapter 3
For the last thirty Earth years, a handful of the first native Bitanthrans, the offspring of the original human workers, seemed typical when they were born. They were physically healthy, curious and energetic, and of normal intelligence.
But over the next few years, the children steadily withdrew from their families and the rest of the world. They simply had no interest in the emotional lives of themselves or anyone else.
“You’ve been briefed on my mission?” Luis said before he realized how it sounded. “I’m sorry. You probably know more than I do. This isn’t exactly open information outside of TransGalactic.”
“We’ve worked hard to keep it that way. I always wake early so I can monitor what’s happened while we were out. Several groups of women have been taken off-world for the
