“Hey, I thought I might see you before the big launch. Nerves getting the better of you?”

"Oddly, not. I think I am trained enough. I think I trained Gabe enough. Do I look nervous?"

Huh, he will go up to Moraine then.

“Not particularly, but most of the explorers were before they launched. Don’t get yourself killed out there, you hear? And don't let Gabe get themselves killed either. Not after I’ve put this much work into training you. ...Haha, go on, go make Outer Wilds Ventures proud.”

“Hm? Oh, hello, astronaut. This is good weather for your launch, right? That's lucky!”

"It is. What are you looking at? Spying on someone?"

Grin. "I will. And don't worry, Gabe is... himself, but he is more competent than anyone gives him credit for."

“I'm using my signalscope to pick up sounds from distant planets. It's set to the Outer Wilds Ventures frequency so I can pick up the travelers' music. Last night I heard Riebeck's banjo coming from Brittle Hollow. I hope that means they're safe. I can hear different planets, too! it depends on what time of day or night it is, since different planets are in the sky at different times. Signalscopes are cool.”

"They are, what you think Riebeck is doing in Brittle Hollow?"

"Knowing Riebeck, they're probably exploring places that seem safe. They're not one for taking risks. If it wasn't for their fascination with Nomai ruins they probably wouldn't have ever left Timber Hearth."

"I don't get why the nerdy types like a bunch of half-destroyed things, but..." he shrugs.

"If not for the tech we've reverse engineered your ship wouldn't be nearly as good."

"Which is all good and great, but it still sounds like so much work when you start from ruins."

"Some of the 'ruins' are pretty intact. Maybe remnants would be a better word."

Shrug. "Anything else interesting happening lately?"

"There's the Statue Gabbro brought back from Giant's Deep. Have you seen it yet?"

"No? What about it?"

"Well based on the fragments from other statues we know they have a lot of computing hardware in them but nobody knows what it uses all that for."

Shrug. "That sounds like the sort of thing Henry would want to figure out."

"What are you hoping to find out there?"

"Me? Just the pretty sights. I am mostly going because Henry wants to do archeology in the name of The Noble Pursuit of Science."

"You two always have been inseparable. I hope you enjoy yourself out there."

Shrug. "I am a simple person. I am sure it will be entertaining one way or another." Wink.

Moraine smiles. "I expect so."

Anyway. "Do you have any other interesting facts to offer? Or should we depart ways?"