The chapter enters the collective perspective of We, which defines itself through memory. We recalls its earliest state, before shared identity, when separate generations survived or perished without continuity. Survival improved when One-of-We learned to record itself in an archive, allowing descendants to inherit adaptations and trade useful knowledge with other archive-keeping forms.

Over many generations, We learned to inhabit and control complex hosts, using them as protected environments. This process made We increasingly complex until We became aware of itself as We. Curiosity then drew We into a new, hostile, alien environment, where most forms failed but a few adapted and preserved the whole through the archives.

We next remembers entering the mind of Gav Lortisse, listening to the human vessel’s internal complexity, copying it, and becoming Lortisse. Through Lortisse, We learned the idea of the Adventure: a vast universe beyond its previous understanding. We then spread to Rani and Lante, valuing Lante most because Lante’s records reflected We back to itself, while a portion of We was lost with Baltiel when Baltiel left.

After the Adventure failed to arrive, We remained as Lante for many generations, trying to recreate Lante and the lost promise of the outside universe from its own memories. Later, after being taken to another place, We existed only in limited boxes, was studied, and eventually withdrew into a cryptic state because it lacked resources and stimulation.

In the present, We exists within Meshner and finds rich new complexity there, but suspects this still may not be the true Adventure. By encountering Lante’s account and modelling Lante’s cognition, We becomes more thoughtful and sees itself as Lante understood it. We realizes that the unassimilated minds within Meshner have also seen and understood We through Lante’s words, leaving We uncertain about what should happen next.