Choi's arms shook like she was performing a handstand during a 7.0 magnitude earthquake. She had the ATV pegged to full speed and was cruising across the rough Europian terrain. Even without the sample trailer, which she had left behind, the ATV held sufficient weight to keep it planted firmly on the moon's surface. But at her current speed, even the weight of the modified four-wheeler would do little to keep her on the ground for long.

Rounding a spire of ice, Choi eased up on the throttle. The turn was tight, and for a moment she rode on two wheels, skirting the edge of danger like a carnival trick car. She moved her weight to the opposite side, knowing that if she fell over sideways the ATV might come down on top of her. All four wheels returned to the ice, just in time. A wall of ice, too steep to climb, blocked her path. Worse than that, the area was full of ruby red Europhids.

Choi hammered the brakes. The wheels caught, but the vehicle's speed was too great. The ATV slid into the Europhid coated area, plowing a red smeared path as it skidded over the ice. After ten seconds of sliding, the ATV came to a stop. With a quick jerking motion, Choi looked at her surroundings. She searched for Peterson, watching for an ambush. It never came.

She noticed the Europhids again. They had closed in around her, moving so subtly that she hadn't noticed their approach. She had no intention of repeating the bloodletting that allowed her to escape the cave. Her nose still stung and breathing was difficult through her congested nostrils.

Choi revved the engine in an attempt to frighten the Europhids, but it had little effect. Choi then realized that the roaring engine made no noise at all while in the vacuum of space. As the Europhids continued inching forward, propelled by unseen rows on phalanges on their underside, Choi realized there was another way she could use the ATV against them.

Squeezing the front brakes, Choi locked the front wheels in place. With her other hand, she twisted the throttle to full, sending the back tires into a mad spin. Vibrations from the wheels swirling across the frozen ice reverberated up Choi's spine and into her skull. She knew the tires would do much worse to the Europhids.

With a quick jerk, Choi turned the handle bars of the ATV. The vehicle spun around, its back end swinging out, while its two front tires spun in a rigid circle. As the ATV came around it caught the edge of the approaching Europhids, shredding and splattering them across the others. The violent act seemed to spur the others into action.

The Europhids sprang forward all at once, leaping up in the low gravity, and descending towards Choi.