In this chapter, Jarndyce explains that he has come to the center of the universe to retrieve the memory of his ancestors. He tells his father that the memory is the "semi-immortal" who build dreams for all living creatures. He says that he brings the memory closer to him, but that if he brings it too close, it will "dematerialize" and enter his chest. He explains that this is the same as a normal weapon, but he calls it a "solid chalice" because it has swallowed his memory. He promises that he will use the memory to sleep, to sleep deeply, and to remember everything. He also promises that they will fight aleodactyls on their home planet, and that no soldier has ever defeated a metabaronian. He is eager to test his strength against an enemy that is truly dangerous, and he tells his mother that he plans to fight the leodactyl with old-fashioned blades. He instructs his mother to set the metacraft on automatic pilot, so that the beast will not kill them if they hesitate for a second. He then instructs his father to take him to the shelter, where his ultimate trial awaits.