Someone knocked on Melody’s door. This was not something she really expected—with Othar still evacuated and the fate of the entire colony uncertain, Forerunner didn’t need to visit her in person when something had changed. He did need her permission to enter now, as he had given her a personal guarantee of safety and independence upon the completion of her mission. Now that she had served it, Melody and her growing foal were citizens of Othar, not slaves of the Pioneering Society.