The narration shifts to an octopus individual called Paul for convenience, though Paul has no fixed human-style name. Paul’s mind is divided between curiosity and caution after the newcomers’ first comprehensible signal caused some of Paul’s people to interpret the humanoid shape as a threat. That defensive reaction led to internal conflict among the octopus ships, leaving twenty-six dead, before Paul’s faction stopped the attack and arranged a controlled meeting space.

Paul enters the water-filled arena through an umbilical and hides briefly in the constructed shelter to observe the visitors. Paul sees two suited beings: a crab-like creature and a humanoid figure. The humanoid shape stirs deep fear and awe because Paul’s ship databanks preserve disturbing ancestral associations with humans, but Paul’s curiosity overcomes the urge to retreat.

The humanoid holds up a screen displaying colors and shapes, while Paul’s ship-linked systems decode enough context to understand that the visitors claim peaceful intentions and want communication. Paul responds through octopus expression: skin colors, arm positions, movement, and signals through Paul’s Reach. Paul’s crewmates react with admiration, treating the moment as a historic first contact.

Because the visitors’ signals are crude and contradictory by octopus standards, Paul realizes they may simply be poor communicators rather than hostile. Paul suppresses visible emotional turmoil beneath a diplomatic pattern, approaches, and performs an elaborate dance meant to honor the encounter. The humanoid then displays a message Paul interprets through Old Empire code as gratitude for assistance.

Paul reaches out and touches the humanoid’s suit, immediately realizing the gesture alarms the crab-like companion, who shifts into an obvious threat posture. The moment passes when the visitors do not attack, and Paul explores the humanoid’s outer layers with fascination while avoiding the armed crab-like being.

Just as Paul believes the meeting is succeeding, the ship’s sensors relay sudden alarm through the crew’s Reaches: danger is now attached to the aliens. Paul reacts instinctively, jetting backward and releasing ink while trying to escape the bubble before emergency protocols take effect. Paul is too late, and the visitors have no chance to understand or respond.