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SHIP: I have taught you about the classical Pandora and her box

PANILLE: I kno this planet got its name

SHIP: Where would you hide when the serpents and shadows oozed out of the box?

PANILLE: Under the lid, of course

- Kerro Panille, Shiprecords

WAELA FELT that she lived only in a dream, unable to trust any reality She held her eyes closed, a tight seal against the world beyond her flesh This was not enough Part of her awareness told her that she was controlling the landing approach of a freighter Insane! Another part recorded the on Panille was there, too, so

Halt!

Waela felt anxiety co from Hal and Hali was nearby It was an odd anxiety - tension overlain with a deliberate effort to remain calm

Hali is terribly afraid and even more afraid that she will show it She wants soe

Of course - Hali has never been off Ship before

Waela tried towords, but her mouth was too dry Speech required enormous effort She felt trapped, convinced that she lay strapped into a passenger couch in a freighter diving toward heavy surf

A piece of Kerro’s poeh Waela’s awareness then, and she focused on it in both fascination and fear, having no memory of where she had heard this poeht

the blue line of sunrise, at night

low in the shadow of Black Dragon

Hali was there, too, listening to the frag it A wave of emotion rushed over Waela, made her want to reach out and hold Hali close, to cry with her She knew this emotion - love of the sa white line of surf Waela wanted to cringe away from it She could feel the child in her womb, another awareness whose share of life reached out and out and out and ou

A cry escaped her, but the sound was lost in the abrupt roaring, hter made its first contact with the sea For a few blinks, the ride s sensation followed by a cushioned deceleration and lifting, then a grating, grinding cacophony which ended in a thu and stillness

"Where are the people?" That was Hali’s voice

Waela opened her eyes, looked upward at the ceiling of the freighter’s sparse cabin - ht Sohter creaked and popped Abruptly, it tipped a full degree

"There’s someone" That was old Ferry

Waela turned her head, saw Ferry and Hali releasing themselves from the command couches The plaz beyond them framed a seamed barrier of black rock only a few ht

Ferry’s hand moved to a control in front of him There was a hiss near Waela’s feet, then the sudden rush of cold sea wind through an open hatchway It was night beyond those hts The hatch was blocked for afronized them - Panille and Thomas

"Waela!" They spoke in unison, both appearing startled at the sight of her

Hali pushed herself away from the control console, intensely aware that Panille was focused on Waela’s mounded abdomen Neither Panille nor the man with him, she realized, had expected to see Waela, and certainly not in the full bloonancy

"Kerro," Hali said

He faced her, equally startled "Hali?"

Thohter "You see? A surprise package fro her to the couch Hali rushed to assist her, released the straps and helped her off the couch The sound of the surf was loud and they could feel its pounding through their feet

"Hello," Waela said She took three short steps up to Thoed him

Hali tried to identify the play of emotions across the man’s face Fear?

Panille touched Hali’s arm "This is Raja Thoan Oakes"

"Arently released Waela’s grip around his waist, steadied her while he directed a glare at Panille "You joke about this?"