"TES team, this is Choi. Do you read me? Over." Choi waited ten seconds for a response and got none. "TES team, come in." Choi's voice took on a desperate tone as her voice was projected on multiple channels across the surface of Europa. "TES team, if you can hear me, the Europhids…they're dangerous…violent…and they have control of Peterson. I think he's on his way to you. Do not trust him. I repeat, do not trust Peterson."

Choi continued transmitting. She thought about racing across the ice in an effort to overtake and subdue Peterson, but she was nowhere near a physical match for him and she had no idea how long she'd been unconscious. For all she knew, they were already dead.

She wouldn't accept that. "Connelly, this is Choi. Do you read? Respond, dammit!"

Choi looked up as she spoke and remembered that things were only going to get worse. The cloud of charged particles were still gliding slowly toward the Surveyor. Even if they survived further attacks from the Europhids and Peterson, if the Surveyor was brought down with Harris unable to correct the situation, they might all be trapped on the moon's surface with no hope of rescue.

"Please, God, someone respond."

*   *   *   *   *

The muscles in Willard's back became taut to the point of nearly snapping. So far the mass of creatures clinging to the nested wall had paid no attention to the three of them, but he wasn't sure that would last, especially if they tried to exit the way they came in. Their best bet might be to slip out another exit without being seen and try to make it back to TES another way. He found his way through the cave system before. He could do it again.

He relayed his plan to the others and they both agreed, but before they could execute the scheme a crackling voice interrupted his thoughts. It was faint and full of static. "Choi…"

Connelly glanced at Willard. "What? Are we leaving?"

They hadn't heard it. "Stop talking and boost your com volume. I thought I heard Choi."

All three made the adjustments, moving slowly so as to not attract attention from the wall of beasts. Choi's voice came through again, this time much clearer. "Please respond…TES team…If anyone can hear this…respond. Over."

"Reading you now, Choi," Willard said. "Over."

"Thank God." Willard had never heard so much emotion poured into Choi's normally reserved voice. Something was wrong.

"What's your situation?" Willard asked. "Are you okay?"

The com crackled for a moment and then cleared. "…fine. But you're all in danger."

Tell me about it, Willard thought.

"The Europhids," Choi said, "stay away from them."

Willard squinted and glanced from side to side. They were surrounded by Europhids. "Why?"

"They're…they're dangerous."

"Outside of our experiment with the plant incubator they haven't shown any signs of malicious behavior," Connelly said. "They can't even move."