The mantis at the desk turned out to talk through a small bronze speaker on a black ribbon around their neck; tiny white symbols glowed around its edges. They typed quite easily using a regular-looking keyboard, using the delicate appendages that extended past their hooked claws.

"Let's see here, Mr. Press," they said. "I did find some of the names you gave me. Now, for privacy reasons, I'm unable to give you any addresses. I'm sure you understand."

They reached over and turned the monitor around to face Hawk, who had been sitting with his hands clenched together silently. Now he leaned forward to look--he had to squint some to read the yellow type on the black screen, but the letters swam a little less this time.

"Teige Carroll, Winifred Parker, Hanabi Shibata--these three entered Enodia when the ports last opened up," the mantis explained, as Hawk scanned the screen over and over again, sorting out the names and the dates. "Though it appears that Teige and Winifred have left again on a military visa to Aetheri. I did not find a Minerva Macdonald. And," they added, "I did not find a Liliya Kiski, either."

As they said it, Liya's name suddenly stood out to Hawk, blazing on the screen. And next to it, now just as in focus, the words 'no result' in all block letters.