Vera snuggled up next to Ham as he lay sleeping in the bunk, being very careful not to wake him suddenly.

‘That was an interesting experience.’ remembered Vera.

Suddenly the klaxon signaling reentry from jump space sounded.

Vera moved with the urgency of a woman whose life was at stake. Ham was faster, but she’d been awake already and barely rolled out of bed as his hand grabbed for her throat. Standing with her back against the cabin door, panting, ready to open it and run if need be, Vera allowed herself to relax a bit as Ham came fully awake and sat up in the bunk.

“Boo?” he asked plaintively.

Looking around the cabin, Vera’s eyes lit upon the small, all white stuffed Hamster toy that Ham was so fond of, laying on the floor. Reaching down and picking up the toy, she gently handed it to Ham.

“C’mon, now big boy, it’s time to get up. We’re almost at Overnale and we’ve got to get ready to change ships for the journey to Callia.”

At her own mention of Callia, Vera wondered what dangers awaited them on that dusty, barren world. Looking back at Ham, her hand rising to her neck, she thought, ‘I just need to survive until we get there.’

With that, she laughed out loud and said playfully to Ham, “Race you to the fresher?”