Cautious. He respects that. David stoops and touches the thing. No pained shout. No overwhelmed whine before jerking away. Just closing his eyes and considering before he stands straight.

“It vouches for you. And I’ve seen its history enough to know that it isn’t a replica. Which of course brings us back to your story. Tell me what you remember since arriving here. How you arrived. Where you were before.”

He needs to know if it lines up.