Dawn

At one point, while Lilith is in bed with Joseph, Nikanj opens up a hole and enters the room. Lilith fears how Joseph will react to seeing an Oankali for the first time. Joseph does indeed cower until he hears Nikanj speak in English and realizes that Lilith knows it. Lilith tells Nikanj of the difficulties she’s been having as a leader, but Nikanj warns that getting discouraged will make her job more difficult.

Joseph asks Nikanj about the Oankali capacity to clone humans, and Nikanj admits that they can and have done it, although they’re careful not to damage “partner-species.” Still, the Oankali are also interested in human culture, which artificially created clones can’t capture. Nikanj explains that any humans that kill or severely injure another during training won’t be allowed to go back to Earth, with the exception of Lilith, who is in charge. Lilith, who remains skeptical about many aspects of the Oankali plan, asks if Joseph can get an exemption to be able to kill also, but Nikanj denies it, saying it’s outside his power.

Lilith asks Nikanj if Joseph can at least have the same powers as Lilith, to open walls and Awaken people. Nikanj is potentially open to this. They have been speaking in Oankali, so Lilith now explains to Joseph what she’s trying to get for him. Joseph is cautious about anything that might involve changing his cells but eventually consents to the procedure.

Joseph is still a little fearful, so Nikanj offers its sensory arm for Joseph to see and learn more. Joseph touches the arm and seems fine at first before crying out and fainting—Joseph passed out because Nikanj drugged him, although he seemed to be close to the breaking point of what humans can endure when it comes to witnessing the Oankali. Lilith is worried, but Nikanj says that Joseph has done more than any undrugged human they’ve met before. Nikanj says that other humans have been gossiping and turning against Joseph, angry at how he’s allied himself with Lilith, and so he will need extra strength and ability to heal injuries, like Lilith herself received.

As Nikanj is modifying Joseph, they have a neural link, and when Nikanj speaks, Joseph unconsciously does too. This unnerves Lilith, and eventually Nikanj stops this connection. Nikanj invites Lilith to lie down with it and Joseph. Lilith agrees. She lies on one side with Nikanj in the middle and Joseph on the other. Nikanj wraps its sensory arm around Lilith. Lilith thinks about how this is the same position she might be in if she ever gets pregnant with a part-Oankali child. She feels Nikanj plug into her nervous system with its sensory arm.