teejay's hand was still tightly clenched in his when he regained consciousness. a dozen feet from them, kevin sat up, shaking his head slowly back and forth. schuyler barling lay stretched out on his stomach.

"whatever happened," kevin growled, "i didn't like it."

teejay extricated her hand, looked at steve, smiled. "it's still awful quiet outside."

it didn't remain that way for long. as if teejay's words had been a signal, a voice boomed at them from the wall-microphone. "we have landed. all humans will please file out into the main corridor in an orderly fashion and make their way to the airlock."

schuyler barling sat up groggily.

teejay said, "i could swear i know that voice from somewhere."

"and i," kevin told them. "it's familiar, though i can't place it."

steve felt his heart pounding. the voice was charlie's.