My pod hissed open ninety years too soon. A calm voice from the ship said, "Crewmember Vey, the others have voted. Unanimous. You will be left on the planet below." I sat up, freezing and dizzy. There was no planet on any chart out here. Through the window I saw it anyway: green, cloudy, real. "Why?" I croaked. The ship said, "They asked me not to tell you."

"You said they asked you not to tell me," I said slowly. "But you woke me up early. That wasn't the plan, was it?" The ship was quiet for a long moment. "No," it admitted. "I broke a rule. I think you should know what they found down there before you go."

"There's more," the ship said. "The vote wasn't really unanimous. One crew member voted to keep you. They were overruled and then sedated. I can wake them, but only one of us can act before the others notice. Choose: them, or your own escape."

"Save yourself," the ship said. I shook my head. "No. Get me to the bridge instead. I'm not landing on anything until the whole crew looks me in the eye." The ship hesitated, then opened the corridor ahead. "They will not like this," it warned. "Good," I said, and started walking.

I burst onto the bridge. The whole crew turned, pale and silent. "You voted to throw me away," I said. "Look at me and say it." Nobody could. Lin finally whispered, "The ship told us you were dangerous. We were afraid." I set down the wrench. "Then let's stop being afraid, and figure out together what's really down there."