Lillian reckons they should freeze Cyriax in suspended animation, and unfreeze him when they reach the Silver Sun. That way, he could get help. They discover the only way to save Cyriax is to send him back to Earth on an escape pod. Two people have to pilot the pod. Steve chooses Tane and Mara, but Mara doesn't want to go back to Earth, so Leonella decides to take her place, fighting many difficulties along the way. Sheng feels annoyed when he is not selected to pilot the escape pod, and stops communicating with Pancha for good.