john perry and jane sagan, the former ghost brigade clone of perry's dead wife, are offered positions as leaders for the new colony of roanoke, which will comprise human settlers from the first ten established human colonies. after deliberating, they decide to accept and go with zoe to the new colony. in tow are zoe's obin protectors, named hickory and dickory, who view her with almost religious awe due to her father's success in giving the obin consciousness.