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Alice fidgets in her seat. She's been cooped up in the pod for nearly 54 hours, and would kill for a shower and a bed. Glancing over at Key, she sighs. He's been asleep most of the time she's been awake.

No, not asleep, more like comatose. Those damn survivalist modifications that drudge has can do that.

Sighing heavily, she retreats to the hatch and tries to stretch. After running through a few positions, she turns to the small converter and gets a small, ration style meal.

When she sits back down, Key stirs, taking a deep breath. "That smells good," he groans.

"It's just rations," she states and takes a bite.

He rubs his face, then says, "Still." He gets up and gets himself some food. As he sits back down, he says, "Drudge, status report."

"Power reserves: 17%. 37 minutes until we drop from FTL. All pods accounted for."

"Maintaining the FTL envelope has really drained our power," he groans. "Once we drop from FTL, how long to planetfall?"

"Approximately two hours."

Alice sips at her drink, then asks, "Will we have enough power for that?"

"Unsure, but it is the most power efficient method of entry, and we will spend that time collecting solar energy."

"Will it be enough?" Key asks.

"Unsure. I do not have a solar output rating for the Merrin sun."

"The probe didn't send that?" she asks.

"Planetary probes don't, I keep asking them to update the software to do that, but they don't listen," Key states.

Alice takes another drink, then turns and pulls out one of the small power cells she added. "What about this? Would it help?"

Key takes the soda can sized power cell. "Where'd you get this? Ship's inventory didn't include these."

"Pond pulled a schematic and made them with a converter."

"How...I mean, I could have them made. I am a general after all, but how did you? Did Pond do some hacking?"

Drudge interrupts with an answer. "Regulations state, 'Only personnel of command or engineer status can craft power storage and restricted items.' Being a Lt, and senior to all other but you, the ship defaulted to her as second in command after the impact."

Key starts to subtly chuckle, and Alice adds, "I also put some prefab shelters in the other two pods."

His laugh grows, and seeing tears run down his cheeks, Alice asks, "What's so funny?"

He tries to stop laughing, and states, "These are great to charge the smaller equipment, but the pod will drain this in about ten minutes."

She flushes red with anger and embarrassment. "There's more of those."

He abruptly stops laughing and sits up. "Drudge, how long will entry take?"

"About ten minutes."

He leans over and kisses her. "Alice, you're a genius, and I love you."

* * *

Having dropped from FTL speed, and all the other pods having done the same, Key has everyone transmit their pods remaining power. Most report near 30%, while the unmanned pods are over 50%. Despite Key's resting at near coma state, two people in the pod taxed life support more than anticipated. Fortunately, using two of the power cells, their pod now has 19% power left.

Seeing Merrin looming large ahead of them, Key can't help but stare. It's a beautiful world with four moons.

The pods sensors quickly locate the probe. It's in the middle of a landmass, near a body of water.

"Set us down near the probe."

"Why?" Alice states.

"We have shelter, there's fresh water nearby, and if we found it that easy, it means that there's nothing in the area that interferes with our sensors."

"Oh."

"Starting descent protocols," drudge announces, and the pod begins to rotate. As it does, they see other pods doing the same thing.

When it stops, they're facing away from the planet. "Orientation complete. Firing descent thrusters in ten seconds."

They quickly strap in, and moments later they fire, shoving them to the planet. As the pod starts to enter the atmosphere, it begins to rattle.

Alice turns and gives Key an odd look. "I'm puzzled. If we found it this easy, why did we lose contact with it?"

He looks back at her, and a worried look crosses his face. "Drudge, did you account for the atmosphere changes?"

"I attempted to, but there was not enough data after the change to do so accurately."

The pods shaking continues to intensify, and they start to see the ionized plasma flicker around the windows.

Alice closes her eyes. Tears start to flow as fear grips her. She's never done this before, not even in simulations.

Seeing Alice starting to cry, he reaches out to take her hand.

With fear clouding her mind, she releases her straps. "What are--Strap back in!" Key shouts.

Too late, she's already climbing from her seat and curls up onto his lap.

"You need to be in your seat," he pleads.

The pod bucks hard forcing Key to hold on to her.

Realizing just how scared she is, he tries to comfort her. "Hun, you need to get back in your seat and strap in."

The pod bucks again. His heart jumps as she almost bounces off his lap.

He clinches her tighter. "Drudge, dampening field to max."

"It already is."

"Hold on to me, hun. It's gonna get rougher."

He's only slight comforted by her tightening her arms around him.

The pod continues to descend, shaking and bucking as it does. Time seems to drag as Key holds her to him, desperately trying to keep her on his lap. With the turbulence increasing, he doesn't know if he can keep her from harm.

"Entering the lower atmosphere," Drudge announces.

"Hold on, hun."

The pod lurches hard, falling faster. With another lurch it slows, then a loud crunch and a change of direction.

There's another loud crunch, and the pod changes direction again.

Yet another crunch, and Key hears a light crack.

Then darkness.