"Earth seems unlikely, or at least the versions we know, but it's not impossible," I say, eyes obediently if impatiently closed; I've been doing a pretty damn good job of sitting still this entire time, and I'm really ready to be done with with my visit to the salon.

"Just in the sense of it seeming counter-intuitive to what we've already experienced," I add, brushing away tiny bits of hair from my cheeks and nose and eyelashes when I feel Kira finally step away. "And trust me when I say I'm not crazy about the idea. But you're right. Logic follows that if we were in a simulation the first time, we could be right back in another one. A more advanced one." We passed the fucking test, whatever it was. Whoopie.

"And gathering the data to try and figure out if it's at least an Earth-like simulation if not actually Earth is high on the priority list. I have to assume everybody here is wanting answers. But accounting for everyone and any changes in the people has to be the first thing."