"It's called a uterine replicator," he says. "There's actually an entire planet populated solely by men who use replicators to gestate all of their children. But in the rest of the galaxy it mostly serves as a safer and more convenient alternative to, um, conventional gestation."

"...I very much like the sound of this," says Milo.

"We could go fetch your boyfriend and tell him the good news if you like."

"That would be very kind of you," he says with a small bow.

"...Certainly," says Reko, exhibiting only mild surprise.

Pop.

A beaming Milo launches himself at Reko and kisses him.

Miles claps his hands over his mouth and makes a small strangled squeaking noise.

"...You okay?"

"Reko is a little templatey. You've got one?"

"I believe I've mentioned Emperor Gregor."

"It really had not crossed my mind to do so!"

"Oh dear."

"Well. Now I know what the next astonishing development was. God help me if there's another one in the queue."

[No more of those in the network,] reports Jane.

"It looks like we've got a number of templates shared between my world and yours. Maybe they're all accreting around the Milos." She squints. "Or close enough."

"That... would not entirely surprise me, I admit."

"...D'you have a Cousin Jann?"

"I have a Cousin Ivan..."

"Should I go see if your cousin is reading that note I left?" Glass asks Milo.

"Yes, I think so."