a mere bag of shells

"Do most Homs not bring a metal detector when going beachcombing?"

"Maybe," Shulk replies, distractedly blowing a tuft of hair out of his face, "but half the fun's not knowing what is it you've found until you've identified it for yourself. Right?"

Alvis nods, as much to himself as to Shulk. The human trait of ineffable curiosity - even when they are called to obscure the facts from themselves on purpose.

And where to scavenge next, when all the beaches on every Bionis - past, present, future - have been exhausted of both treasure and surprise; all meaning?

Perhaps, then, to the moon.