He shifts into full-blown curiosity over the guy's reply. He's a little suspicious of everything after landing himself in uncharted territory, but it hasn't choked his hope.

"Yeah, you could say that. Are you — Sebacean?" he asks, voice rising to a near squeak on the last syllable. It's not the question he wants to ask; the guy knows astronauts, but John doesn't want to jinx himself by asking are you human?