The Last Shadow

Plot

Bean Delphiki's altered children, the Leguminids, ensured their species' survival by mating with humans from a colony world, but later stole their grandchildren away to raise them in space. The Leguminids received a transmission from a Hyrum Graff hologram instructing them to go to the planet Lusitania to assist with an investigation of Descoladora, after a transmission of the descolada virus's full genome raised fears of a plague resurgence. Jane and Miro Ribeira traveled instantaneously to the Leguminid ship to recruit them.

Jane used the grandchildren to research the planet and sent Bean's children to reconcile with their spouses. One grandchild, Thulium, discovered that Formics had thrived on Lusitania and developed a relationship with the Hive Queen. Peter Wiggin II, a genetic copy of Ender Wiggin's brother containing Ender's Aiúa, and his wife Si Wang-mu used Jane's financial resources to study the planet. Jane taught Peter instantaneous travel and told him to connect with Wang-mu and Thulium for surface travel.

Peter and Wang-mu went to the surface alone, encountered sentient keas and ravens who taunted and stole from them, and Wang-mu negotiated first contact.