The analogy was fruity, Choi thought, but accurate. She did indeed feel like she was floating—and moving. The massaging limbs dug in again and she began to calm. It occurred to her that several people must be rubbing her body…but who?  And where?

"Stop thinking," the voice said. "Let go your mind."

Choi counted the pressure points on her body, which came and went, as she was moved along. The amount of hands touching her changed from moment to moment, all sizes, from large manly hands to smaller, child-like appendages. And…was she lying on her back? It felt that way. Choi tried to remember what a massage looked like but a fog rolled through her, concealing her thoughts.

"Your worries are being carried away."

A nerve was struck and her stomach tightened. Carried. She was being carried! A rapid strobe of memories flashed into her mind. Europa. The Surveyor. The crew. Europhids…Peterson.

"Your body is relaxing," the voice said. "You are safe. You are warm. Let go your mind."

No, Choi thought.

The voice grew louder. "Let go."

"No!" Choi shouted as her eyes sprung open. Immediately, she could see the electric side of Jupiter blocking out the stars above. She was moving. She could feel it now. She turned her head to the side. A field of red glowing lightly in the dark, looming out at eye level wiggled innocently, almost cutely, as far as she could see. The combined light of the Europhids, the occasional flash of Jupiter's electric storms and the ambient star light was just enough to see by.

Suddenly, the motion below her stopped. She was no longer being moved. Choi screamed as a dark shadow stood over her, looking down with red eyes. It was Peterson.

"Let go your mind," Peterson said insistently as he raised his booted foot into the air above Choi's head. He brought his foot down with crushing force.

Choi felt the Europhids lurch away as she twisted her body out from under the blow. She hit the ice and rolled away. Peterson's foot just missed her head. The Europhid supporting her shoulder at that moment wasn't quick enough and was reduced to a gushing red smear on the white ice.

Choi looked back and saw Peterson's face was twisted in an odd sort of anguish. He stared at the splattered Europhid. He knelt down ton one knee and ran his fingers through the wet remains. Nearby Europhids moved closer, gliding over the ice as though propelled by unseen appendages. They inspected the dead.

Realizing this might be her only chance of escape, she leapt to her feet and staggered forward. Blackness faded into and out of her vision and her head pounded. The memory of her earlier collision with the ice returned and she wondered how far she could run before collapsing.