"I've made it this far. No earthquake's going to get me," he says, with the self-assurance he can summon so easily, even if he's never really as certain as he sounds.

It had been too close, he'd been too foolish, going down there without any preparation or supplies, either of which would have made the days they'd been stuck in there much easier. And stopped him winding up being sedated and hauled into sickbay by Trance.

One corner of his mouth tightens.

"I'm glad you're not, too. Smart of you to stay out of the caves."

Not surprising, given the world ship thing, but smart.