O'Brien took a deep breath and shook his head. "I woke up--something
warned me. This." He unclasped his gloved hand and showed the milky
crystal. "It knew--she--was close. I felt it. I woke up, went to a
port, and saw the--the lights. Hastings was out there. She'd called
him, I guess. He was running after the lights.... I had sense enough to
put on my suit. Then I followed. But Hastings was too fast for me. I
followed till I lost him. Miles--hours. Then I saw my oxygen was low. I
tried to get back to the ship--"