- Stop it, Rygel, Thäa lashes out. I want to look too.

- They might be dead, says D'argo with his deep voice. A distress beacon can last a long time.

Aeryn types in a few codes. - It's worth a look, she says, glancing at D'argo. The signal is strong. - It's a trap, cuts Rygel, hovering around Thäa. I'll have none of this. - It might be someone who has a map to Hyneria, suggests Zhaan calmly. I vote to go. - Me too, says Aeryn.

- I'm going, says Chiana. If I was in their place, I'd want to be rescued.

- We'll need to pinpoint their location, says D'argo, moving away from the console. I don't like those atmospheric disturbances.

- What disturbances? asks Rygel, coming closer to the console the Luxan vacated.

- An everlasting snowstorm, says Pilot from the clamshell. The temperature is just above the freezing point but the winds are picking up. You'll have only a few arns of daylight.

- Those stranded frelniks will have to be very generous to be worth the trouble, mumbles Rygel. Pilot, prepare the transport pod.

- I'm already working on it, says Pilot. It will be ready in forty-five microts.

Stark and Thäa, who were not part of the discussion, follow the others out of the room. Stark goes his own way, but Thäa follows Zhaan to the laboratory.

- I don't need medicine to help, says the small Féerian, but I feel I need to bring something. A kettle of broth would be nice. There is nothing more depressing than food cubes.

- Food can wait, says Zhaan, while perusing through a shelve of small bottles. Once we bring them back here, you will have all the time you need to feed them.

She turns to Thäa long enough to smile warmly to her, then points to a small metal case.

- Why bring medicine? asks the Féerian.

- You cannot cure more than one person at the time, answers Zhaan. We have no idea how many there are.

- True, says Thäa, putting the small bottle Zhaan is giving her in the metal box.

- Do dress accordingly to the weather, says Zhaan.

- Boots and coat, I know, laughs Thäa, and mittens... and scarf... I'll roll if I can't walk.

- Go get dressed, says the Delvian, still smiling from Thäa's laughing outburst. I will meet you at the docking bay.

- Are we there yet? she asks, giggling, because she asked the same thing at least seven times already.

- No, but you can open the door for you to check, says Rygel, hovering in his throne sled to the door leading to the back rooms.

- You did it on purpose, says Chiana with a snide smile to Thäa. A bump lands Thäa off the bench but she quickly sits back without a word. - Rough landing? asks Chiana, springing from her place to take a look at the front window.

- We are THERE, Thäa, says D'argo, and if I were you, I'd stay in to control the beacon's call. That wind will blow you away.

- I'm staying in, says Rygel, hovering back to the main room.

- Not fair! cries out Thäa, jumping to her feet. You can hover above everything, snow included!

- The throne sled wasn't designed for that kind of weather, says Aeryn. Rygel's right. He can't go out.

- You knew it all along! says Thäa, looking from Rygel to Aeryn and then back again.

Zhaan has taken a few bottles from the small metal case, pockets them and heads out the door. Stark goes after her, then Aeryn follows. D'argo looks at Thäa, who's standing her grounds.

- You can't cure anyone in here, says the Luxan. Isn't it why you came?

Thäa sighs, pulls up her hood, then pushes it way down on her forehead, puts on her gloves, then goes out the steps. As her foot touches the icy ground, the wind pushes her back to the transport pod's hull and D'argo grips her coat to steady her.

- Put your scarf in front of your mouth and nose, says Zhaan as she takes the girl's hand.

- Rygel, screams Aeryn in her comm-badge, which direction are we taking?

- Due dekka fifteen, says Rygel. You have about two metras to go straight from here, and you're there.

From between hood and scarf, Thäa peeks in at the direction Aeryn is pointing. All she sees is grey bumps changing form as the wind blows the cover of snow away, a bit of darkness over those when the wind shifts, probably mountains in the distance, and nothing else. The whole world seems white and grey and dancing a strange ballet to make her dizzy. As Moya's crew start making way in the right direction, D'argo in front, she follows the golden coat, but it disappears for a moment, and she ends up thigh deep in soft snow.

- Stuck! she yells out in panic.

A strong arm gets her out of the snow drift and back on solid ground.

- Don't stray, growls D'argo in front of her.

She turns around to find out who's hand caught her from behind, and a blue face looks down at her.

- Are you alright? asks Zhaan.

- Too much wind in my face, says Thäa in the softest voice that can be heard. I can't see a thing.

Zhaan gets in front of her on the narrow path D'argo is making with his strong built. She takes a fold of her long coat and puts it in Thäa's hand.

- Look down where you are walking, not up, the Delvian says.

Aeryn pushes them along. The wind picks up some more, slowing the pace of the crew and making D'argo's trail a elusive indent in a moving wave. Aeryn, Stark, D'argo and Zhaan all have long legs and Chiana is nimble and strong. Thäa doesn't want anyone to think she's slowing them down, so she doesn't say a word when her feet get wet from snow coming in from the top of her too large boots. When her toes become numb, she stays silent, thinking the brisk walk will eventually bring her feet to produce heat and dry themselves.

- Rygel, we are in front of a mountain, she yells in the badge. Is the signal coming from there?

- How should I know, comes the mumbled answer.

- Are you stuffing your face? asks Aeryn, angrily.

- I am keeping my protein levels up, says Rygel. Take another reading facing the mountain and I'll tell you.

Aeryn takes the pad out again and aims the mountain.

- Stronger signal, says Rygel, audibly gulping. They've taken shelter. You should do the same. A storm is approaching.

- What do you call that? asks Chiana.

- We'll have to climb up, says Aeryn. Does someone sees an opening?

She tries to shelter her face from the wind, winces, blinks, to no avail. The mountain is now invisible to her eyes. Hardly standing up on her feet, Thäa looks down, closes her eyes, then looks up quickly.

- There, she says pointing to a spot halfway from the bottom of the mountain.

- Yes, says Stark. I saw it when the wind shifted.

- Yeah! exclaims Chiana without any cheers in her voice. We walk in knee high snow for five arns then we must climb half a metra. Pure fun.

- You can go back if you prefer, says Aeryn.

- What are we waiting for? asks Chiana, not even acknowledging Aeryn's remark. Stark, you saw it, you first.

Aeryn and D'argo nod, so Stark takes on the lead of the path. The rocks soon start to poke through the snow but the opening is far up and the climb steep. Thäa looks up. The sun is setting beyond this white sheet of snow and for her, the mountain is so clear, it's as though it's calling to her. Will her feet hold her up to the shelter? She could keep the motion of flexing her knees and hoping her feet would land on a somewhat flat surface but with the angled rocks, she's not so sure she could make it on her own, and it saddens her to be so dependant on others.

Chiana has gone up, following Stark's white coat, then Aeryn starts climbing too. D'argo looks back at Zhaan.

- You should be next, both of you, he says to the Delvian. You're not armed. I'll close the path.

Zhaan nods and without even looking, takes Thäa's wrist in a firm grip.

- I know mountains, argues Thäa.

- There is no snow where patac grows, retort Zhaan, harshly.

She lifts Thäa off the ground by her wrist and push her above her. Every few steps, Zhaan pushes Thäa upwards until they reach the top. At the entrance of the cave, on the small ledge, she gives her a final push and Thäa lands inside, on all fours.

- Why the rush? laughs Chiana, looking at the sprawled Thäa.

- This is a rescue mission, says Zhaan, towering over the Féerian. There is no time to lose.

- Found this, says Chiana triumphantly showing a wood torch with evident signs of being burnt. They're here.

- Or they were, says Aeryn. Three openings, let's start searching deeper.

She lits her flashlight and takes the first opening to the left, Chiana goes straight ahead, her ancient torch quickly lit, and D'argo, with his own flashlight starts in the direction of the third opening when he realises Zhaan's flashlight won't lit. He finds another wood torch on the ground and lits it, puts it in a crack on the wall and goes away, not a word spoken.

Stark looks around, and retrieves different scraps of fabric, food cubes wrappers, but no signs of life. Thäa tries to stand up but can't. Zhaan holds her steady then moves her to a flat rock where Thäa sits down, and undo her scarf to rub her cheeks. The colours on her face are subdued, with soft green and yellow stripes wavering upwards toward her brow.

- I got snow... in my boots, mumbles Thäa, her chin numb from cold affecting her speach. Can't feel... my feet.

Zhaan pulls out Thäa's boot. The Féerian is bare feet and slowly wiggles her toes.

- Nothing's broken, she sighs.

Stark comes closer and looks at Thäa's feet. - Your coat is too big too, he says, concerned. You must be cold all over. - I didn't want to complain, says Thäa, close to tears. - Here, says Stark, sitting down next to her.

He opens his big fluffy coat, sending tuffs of snow on the rocky floor. Zhaan knows what he's doing and takes off Thäa's coat.

- I'm already cold! says Thäa with chattering teeth.

- Not for long, says Zhaan.

She takes Thäa and puts her in Stark's lap, then helps him button his coat over the girl.

- Keep your feet inside, says Zhaan, rubbing them under the white coat.

- I feel pins and needles all over, says Thäa who's face is the only thing outside of the white coat, next to Stark's chin.

- You're tawing, reassures Zhaan. Rest all you can, you're not needed until we find the stranded men.

Thäa looks up to Stark.

- Do you feel them?

- What do you mean? he asks cautiously.

- You would know if they were dead, wouldn't you?

- If they were trapped between realms, I would know, he answers slowly.

- If they didn't fight death, they're gone, mumbles Thäa.

- It is a possibility, says Zhaan, who is looking at the torch on the wall.

- Is there a problem? whispers Stark.

Zhaan turns to look at them and holds up her hand. Thäa is sleeping, so the discussion is closed.

- Not a trace, she says, shutting off her flashlight. The caves are bare, not even ice crystals like in here.

- Come take a look at those crystals, says Zhaan in a hushed voice.

- Why whispering? asks Aeryn as she comes closer.

- Thäa needs to rest before she can heal anyone, answers Zhaan. Look at the torch and the ice around it. Isn't it peculiar?

Aeryn looks at it carefully. The wall is almost flat and patches of ice crystals form no distinctive patterns on it, but closer to the flame, the ice is thicker than any other place in the cave.

- Is there any sign of water seeping thought? asks Aeryn.

- I cannot detect water anywhere around this cave, answers Zhaan, and the ice was thinner when we moved in.

- The torch is heating the wall, says Aeryn, not wanting to show interest. Is the ice... eating the wall?

- We might be rescuing a scientific expedition, says Zhaan. Ice getting rid of all that worthless derisium would be a breakthrough for both agriculture and mining.

- As long as it keeps to derisium, says Aeryn sarcastically.

Thäa starts to mumble something but Aeryn keeps her eyes on the wall. Soon the glare of the torch forces her to blink. When she looks back, the ice is obvioulsy thicker.

- NO!!! screams Thäa.

Zhaan looks back, but Stark lifts a hand.

- Dreaming, he whispers.

- Look, says Aeryn. The ice has shrunk.

D'argo comes back, and switches off his flashlight.

- Nothing, not even foottracks in the dust, he says. Where's Chiana?

- Not back yet, says Aeryn.

D'argo grunts then heads off into the middle opening, switching back on his flashlight.

- Listen, says Aeryn. I do hear a beep.

Zhaan looks around and finds, close to a wall, a black box with a little antennae poking from it. She pushes a button and the antennae retreats in the box. - I found the distress beacon and shut it off, she says, turning it over in her hands. Zhaan looks up as Thäa yells again, and both Aeryn and her see the ice on the wall shrinking.

- Not fast enough, says Aeryn, turning away. No industry would want something that grows so slowly and retreat as soon as food is sparse.

Thäa wakes up at the same time a blast from the Qualta blade is heard.

- What's that? she asks.

Aeryn pulls out her pulse pistol and runs into the middle opening, lighting up her flashlight as she goes. Zhaan puts the beacon back on the ground and comes back to Stark and Thäa.

- Are you rested, my dear? she asks affectionately.

- Warmer, smiles Thäa. What will I do for the boots?

- We will find a solution before we go out again.

- Zhaan, we will loose our light, says Stark, pointing to the torch on the wall.

Effectively, the ice has gotten thicker under the flames, much more than anywhere else on the wall. The torch starts to sputter. Zhaan takes it out.

A blast from a pulse pistol echoes from the tunnel.

- That is no ice, says Zhaan. It's a heat-seaking entity.

- How can we help them? asks Thäa, sitting up straight from under Stark's coat.

- The torch is useless, says Zhaan. We will have to find them in the dark.

- If they're stuck in this thing... says Stark. We have no weapon, not even a knife.

- I can see in darkness, says Thäa tentatively. I could guide you.

- It's not dark back there, says Stark. It's pitch black.

- My people lived in caves for thousands of cycles, says Thäa with aplomb. I can see as bright as day where no light has ever shown. Trust me. I can do it.

- I can lower my body temperature and Stark has his coat, says Zhaan. As of you, young girl, you will stay hidden in his coat.

- Not exactly, says Thäa, wriggling out of the coat. I can't show you the way if he keeps me in his arms.

- Your coat is too thin, says Zhaan. The crystals will sense your body heat. We cannot risk that.

Thäa takes her boots and put them back on. Stark stands up and keeps his coat open.

- Walk, but stay inside, he says, with such assurance, Thäa nods and gets back in the shelter of the fur.

As they get into the tunnel, Zhaan touches lightly the furry coat in front of her, following them, step for step.

- Bow your heads here, whispers Thäa after a while. It's low of ceiling.

- You can talk as loudly as you want, says Zhaan.

They walk as briskly as Thäa's little legs will allow then the echo of their steps picks up.

- There's a step here, says Thäa.

- Are we there yet? asks Stark lightly.

- Yes, laughs Thäa. It's a big cave... would be bigger without all this ice. Hey... I see them! They're... caught in ice up to their neck!

- This is the place to act, says Zhaan with a strong voice. We must scream at the top of our lungs. NOW!

The three of them starts yelling, the echo of their screams almost making the ground shakes, then it really shakes as a loud crashing sound, almost a wave, engulfs their screams.

They stop and only silence greets them. Thäa takes a step and Stark and Zhaan follow the forward motion. There's a distinctive crunch beneath their boots.

- D'argo! Aeryn! Chiana! calls Zhaan. Can you hear me.

- Where are you? shouts Aeryn.

Then she manages to light up her flashlight, and all of them see her picking up her pulse pistol from the ground and shaking it to be sure all crystals are gone from it.

- What's that? says D'argo, coming to them, his Qualta blade still in his hands.

- Heat-seaking entities, says Zhaan.

Chiana runs to them.

- How did you know screaming would work?

- I should have known, says Aeryn, looking back at the cave, all shiny on the ground, bare on the walls and ceiling.

Then D'argo's own flashlight picks up a prone body ten paces from him and they all go to it. The man is dead, his light green flesh all shriveled up but he still holds on to a wood torch in his dry hand. When Aeryn moves him, she discover two small bodies under him. Both are as dry as the man, and both are holding a pistol in their dry hands.

- What race are they, asks Thäa with a constricted voice.

- The tall one is a Kadrashani, says D'argo. Peaceful people. They are not known to be explorers, though. They hate going off world. The two others are Pennangs.

- Narls? asks Chiana, bending over them.

- No, they're adults, says Aeryn, looking at Thäa who's about the same size. They're merchants or mercenaries, known to go a long way for profit.

- There are others at the back, says Thäa, pointing to the darkest recess of the cave. Dead too.

Zhaan puts a hand on the Féerian shoulder to comfort her.

- They were taken one by one, like us, says D'argo.

- Maybe not, says Zhaan. The combine heat from many bodies at one time might have triggered the crystals into action.

- Let's go, says Chiana. I don't like it here.

Aeryn pockets a data recorder from the Kadrashani and takes a step back. Chiana follows D'argo's flashlight to get out, but Aeryn stays behind, waiting for the others. She's stunned when she sees Zhaan taking off boots from one of the Pennangs.

- Snurching? You, Zhaan? she says, sarcastic.

Zhaan takes off the dead man's socks too, then she retrieves his coat and big sweater. She puts the coat back on the dead man, then stands up with sweater, boots and socks in hands.

- I am sure his soul will understand my needs, she says, with a sad smile on her face. I am not robbing the dead, only procuring warmth for the living.

Stark unfastens his coat and Thäa takes the sweater and puts it on. She waits until she's back in the first cave to take her boots off, put the socks on, and new boots which fits her much better, and take back her long peach-coloured coat.

- The next time you go to the storage deck, try everything on before you leave it, he whispers, almost fatherly.

- You hate cold too, don't you, she whispers back as she follows him to the opening. All that whiteness, it's beautiful, almost sensual, but so deadly.

He looks at her, puzzled. Then he looks back outside. All he sees is a dark grey moving sheet of snow on a black background, with only a bit of white where Aeryn's flashlight shines.

- You see white? he finally asks. Where?

- All of it, she answers, making a large half-circle with her arm. White mountain slopes, white fields except where there are rocks poking through. The sky is almost white too, except where the clouds thin a bit... there... it's pale grey.

- She has night vision, says Zhaan, putting her hand on D'argo's shoulder. That is how we found you without a light.

- Your flashlight?

- It does not work.

Aeryn turns back to face them.

- It's no use, she sighs. When I switch on the flashlight, it's like a white wall in front of me. We should ask Rygel to light up...

- NO, exclaims Zhaan with force. The transport pod will emit heat if he starts the engines. We cannot scream the crystals away in open air like we did in a cave.

- You mean... those frelling ice crystals could be outside too? roars D'argo.

- We do not know if they are, corrects Zhaan calmly. Can we take that risk?

- How do we get back? asks Aeryn. According to Pilot, the storm is almost permanent.

- I can get you back, says Thäa with a shaky little voice.

Aeryn looks at her in disbelief.

- She did find us in the cave, says D'argo to her defense.

- She followed the wall, snatches Aeryn. That is no feat.

- How many intersections were there before the big cave? asks D'argo, looking at Aeryn.

- I didn't count, says Aeryn curtly.

- Three left, four right, says Thäa. The last one had a step to get in and the ceiling was round like a DRD's back.

- That's good enough for me, says D'argo. I'm going with her.

Thäa has gotten back to the wall where the torch has been. She looks at it for a microt, then emits such a high pitch scream that D'argo winces.

- It's dead now, she says turning back to face the crew.

Then, in the same breath, she dashes back in the the central tunnel.

- What the frell is she doing now! exclaims Aeryn.

- Should I get her? asks Stark.

- I think she knows what she is doing, reassures Zhaan, gently tapping his arm.

Thäa comes back still running, but in her hands, she has a long rope.

- I would have done it faster, she says, out of breath, but he was half lying on it.

- Snurchin from the dead, you too, says Aeryn.

- Ungrateful tralk! spits out Thäa. If you prefer to stay here, so be it. The others need to be linked to me. I can't hold hands in such deep snow.

Aeryn lifts her hand in sign of truce.

- It's a bit short, says Thäa, but if I do a loop every two denches, it should be long enough.

She starts doing what she's just said.

- Each of you will hold on to a loop, Thäa explains. Either you take it or put your wrist in, I don't care. But I can't look back every five microts to see if you're all there.

- I could... starts Stark.

- No, no one can carry me, since I'm the one finding the path, and giving directions would take much time, and would leave us outside in the cold for much longer.

Aeryn goes closer to D'argo and whispers to him:

- I start to like her when she's decisive like this.

- She's always out of her element, whispers back D'argo. If she was more familiar with her surroundings, I'm sure she could become a good asset.

- Familiarity takes time... We don't have that luxury.

- Let's start by taking her out of the kitchen, says D'argo. She's hiding there.

- There, says Thäa, unrolling the long rope.

She looks at D'argo.

- I want you just behind me, she orders.

- Anyone of us is strong enough to get you out if you sink in snow, says Aeryn.

- He has the bigger voice, retorts Thäa, smiling icily. He'll shout directions so you don't tug on the rope and tire the others in the line.

- Where will I be in your line? asks Aeryn, defiant.

- I don't really care, whispers Thäa, staring at her.

D'argo puts his wrist in the first loop after Thäa's and while doing so, he bends down low to speak to her in private.

- You never liked me when I shout, he whispers. Is this revenge?

Thäa smiles warmly.

- No, D'argo. If I wanted revenge against anyone, it would be much nastier than this. Simply... the ice crystals need a high pitch, and your voice... well... it's not suitable for that.

Then Thäa stops, and looks up. The transport pod is in front of her, the steep ladder barely visible under snow, except for the last rung who is always kept clean by strong gusts of wind. She graps the railing and puts her foot on the first rung. D'argo feels the uplift of the tug.

- I better go up first, says D'argo to her ear.

- I can still lift my legs, retorts Thäa defensively.

- The latch might be frozen, argues D'argo, pushing her to the side. Wait here.

He puts his own loop of the rope in her hand and goes up.

- What's going on? yells Chiana from behind Zhaan. Why didn't Rygel put up the lights?

- Crystals, answers Aeryn from the back of the line. I told him to wait until we're on board to light up any power source.

D'argo comes back down, and puts his hands forwards until he touches someone. It's Thäa.

- Where is Stark? he shouts.

Stark leaves his loop and by touching Chiana's shoulder, Zhaan's arm and then Thäa's head, he reaches D'argo.

- I'm here, he says.

D'argo takes Thäa by the waist and puts her in Stark's arms.

- Hold her, he barks. Zhaan, come here!

Zhaan stands next to Stark when Thäa yells in frustration.

- MY NEW BOOT!

- I need it! snaps D'argo, fumbling to find Zhaan's hand.

- Hold this, says D'argo, putting his lighted flashlight in Zhaan's hand.

- Isn't it dangerous to have a light on? asks Thäa at the top of her lungs.

- No heat comes from that device, says Stark. We're safe.

D'argo gets his knife and puts Thäa's boot close to the light so he can a hole in the sole, as big as the leg opening. Then D'argo pockets back his knife and, still holding the boot in one hand, he tugs on Zhaan's sleeve to get her to the ladder.

- The latch is stuck and sticky, he says close to Zhaan's ear. I need you to yell our way in.

- With the boot as a funnel for my voice, yes, that might work.

- It has to.

He puts the sole of the boot on the latch, finding the right spot by sliding it until it sticks there.

- When you're ready, he says, keeping a hand on the boot as Zhaan bends down to scream into it.

When Zhaan straightens up, D'argo notices that the boot isn't stuck anymore. He tries the latch and it works.

- All of you! he yells. Get in line on the steps. We have to get in as fast as we can. Stark, you first. Get up here!

Still holding Thäa in his arms, he gets up, followed by Chiana and Aeryn. D'argo opens the door and they pour in. Aeryn closes the door and runs to the pilot's chair.

- What's going on, says Rygel, hovering so close to her, she almost slammed into him.

Stark puts Thäa on a bench and sits beside her. Zhaan goes to the controls in front of the pilot chairs while D'argo sits beside Aeryn.

- Pilot, can you hear me? asks Zhaan with urgency, switching communications on.

- Yes, Zhaan, answers Pilot calmly.

- We need to perform a sonic blast, explains Zhaan. Cut all communications for fifty microts, starting... now.

As she says it, she switch on a few buttons and the transport pod vibrates. Chiana graps the edge of her seet, while Thäa puts a hand in front of her mouth, like she's about to be sick. The vibration subsides and Zhaan nods to Aeryn who starts the engines.

- What was that? asks Thäa, taking deep breaths.

- Static noise in high frequencies, answers Aeryn.

- The transport pod screaming its own way out, explains Zhaan with a calm smile.

- Why is Zhaan always making more sense than Aeryn? Thäa whispers to Chiana.

- I never noticed that, says Chiana.

- Can I have my boot back? asks Thäa, looking at her feet. Those foot gloves look ridiculous.

- Socks, says Stark with much emphasis. They're called... sssocks.

Zhaan is watching the monitor as the scanner passes over Chiana, who is lying on a bed in the infirmary. - I'm not staying, says D'argo, turning back to leave. Aeryn, who is slowly sipping from a cup, catches him by the arm. - We don't know what it was, she says, icily.

- It's dead, argues D'argo. We killed every last bit of it.

- What did it do to us? asks Aeryn, on the defensive. Will we be at our fittest when the time comes to defend our lives?

- I hadn't thought of that, says D'Argo, taking a step back in.

Chiana stands up and reaches for her own cup on the tray. D'argo seeing the girls drink, takes his own back from a shelf where he left it earlier, and sips from it. Zhaan turns to face the three of them.

- The ice crystals did no harm to you, announces Zhaan with a warm smile. There was a small deshydratation at first, but that might have been due as much to exertion and the cold as from the crystals. That herbal tea should restore you to your original health.

- Couldn't Thäa do that faster? asks Chiana with a small laugh.

- Does it taste that bad? asks Zhaan, feigning surprise.

- Nah... says Chiana, smiling, then making a face. Worst than that.

- Delvian medicine always taste bad, says D'argo grumpily.

- Why not Thäa, Zhaan, says Aeryn. You haven't answered the question.

- What is there to cure? asks Zhaan. She can fix a broken bone or bruised organ, but she cannot replace water or food.

- Could raslak have done the same as this? asks Chiana, pointing to her cup.

- Raslak? No. But water would have done it...

- What? exclaims Chiana, not smiling at all now.

- It would have been much slower with water, says Zhaan as D'argo leaves the room, disgusted.

Chiana puts the cup down.

- I'll take my chance with water, she says, then leaves.

Only Aeryn stays behind, still sipping from her cup.

- Did you keep any of those crystals, Zhaan? she asks bluntly.

- I do admit it was tempting, answers Zhaan as she puts back her medical instruments in their place. I would have time to study them, but they are too dangerous for Moya.

- Would you tell me if you had kept a single one of them?

Zhaan stares at Aeryn.

- I will never put Moya in any danger, Aeryn, not even for knowledge.

- Pilot? asks Aeryn in her comm-badge. Any sign of the crash site yet?

- No trace of any vessel, crashed or not, answers Pilot.

Aeryn looks at Zhaan, stunned.

- Were they voluntarily stranded? she asks in a breath.

- I don't think so, Aeryn, says Pilot. I never lost communications with our transport pod, but I had no visuals from the time you landed until you cleared off the lattosphere.

- Even the storm was contaminated with those crystals, whispers Zhaan, closing her eyes for a silent prayer.

- Pilot, have you gotten the data recorder?

- Yes, Aeryn, answers Pilot. Stark gave it to me half an arn ago.

- What's on it?

- A few words, says Pilot. Listen:

- They're dead. Trass, protect me, they're dead, says a male raspy voice, then only static comes from the clamshell.

- Thank you, says Aeryn, thoughtful, then puts her cup down.

She looks at Zhaan. The prayer time is over and the Delvian is looking at her with that warm understanding look that gets on her Peacekeeper nerves.

- Thäa is more than a quick fixer, Aeryn says to change the conversation. You knew that, Zhaan?

- We all have potential, says Zhaan carefully.

- If she is to discover her strenghts, says Aeryn, we have to get her out of that frelling kitchen.

Zhaan agrees by lowering her head a bit.

The growth is slow and it takes many arns, but the crystals are in no hurry. Layer upon layer, the crystals covers the entire box, except a small portion at the top.

A few arns later still, Moya has starbursted far away, the crystals are now so thick, their weight makes a little pressure on a button on the side, and the antennae peeks out of the clear space at the top of the box.

The beacon starts emitting again.