'Once. It was an enthusiasm I had. Back when the stars were still something to stare at. You wouldn't remember how that felt.' It was said without conscious pretension or arrogance, almost inconsequentially. His voice lost some of its focus, like a transmission fading out. 'Last time I looked through that lens was nearly two centuries ago. A lot of the Colony ships were still in flight then. We were still waiting to find out if they'd make it. Waiting for the needlebeams to come back to us. Like lighthouse beacons.'