Pete's back still tingled from the final jolt before everything had gone silent. The silence was a relief after the din.

His muscles unknotted.

"Captain Pete Marker?" Sophia's voice made him tense again.

"What is it, traitor?"

"Landing procedure is complete. Override Protocol 8 is therefore terminated. You are now again acting commander of Hope."

For a moment, Pete wondered if Sophia had chosen to ignore his jibe or if she had not got it. Anyway, he was back in power, and he had a ship to command. A ship of frightened, battered passengers.

"Sophia, status report."

"Landing procedure has been completed as planned. Minor damages due to unsecured items in various locations of the ship, still being assessed. Reports on casualties or injuries are still pending."

"Sophia, order my officers to the bridge, immediately... and also the Head Scientist... and the First Engineer. No, scratch that. Not the First Engineer." He would deal with his brother later. "Get me the Second Engineer, Gerald. They are all to be there in no more than ten minutes."

"Understood, Captain."

He opened the cot. Seeing his cabin, he paused. What used to be the floor was now a wall. And what used to be a wall had turned into the floor.

He clambered out and went to Janet's cot, opening it. He was relieved to see her smiling at his sight, although her face was pale.

"Pete!" she said.

"Janet!" he scooped her up, lifting her out of the cot. They embraced.

"I've called for a meeting on the bridge. Come!"

Climbing over fallen furniture, they reached the door and opened it. Like everything else, the corridor outside had rotated by 90°, so they stepped onto what should be its wall and walked along it, towards the bridge.

Most of the people seemed to have remained in their pods or cabins. The first one they met was one of the officers, also heading for the meeting.

"Captain!" she said, looking as if she had had an encounter with her ancestors.

"Hey, Erin. A bit of a rough flight, wasn't it?" Pete grinned at her.

What they needed now was confidence. And, strangely, he did feel like grinning.

When the three of them reached the bridge, they were the first to arrive.

"Sophia. Any updates on status?"

"No, Captain."

"Give me a line to general intercom."

"Line established. Speak now."

"Dear passengers of Hope." Each one of his words would now be carried into all corners of the ship and to every personal comm unit. "This is your Captain speaking. Hope has landed. Everything went fine." Well, at least he hoped so. "Medical personnel please head immediately to the hospital. If anyone has suffered injuries and needs a doctor's attention, do so as well or call Sophia for help. All others, please remain in your cabins for the time being. We will provide more information shortly."

It was good to be back in command.