Pampaa tried to center himself, to find stillness in the chaos.

He closed his eyes.

He focused on his breathing.

He listened carefully.

The sounds inside: his heartbeat (steady for the moment), his breathing (too fast, too shallow), the multi-layered coils of tinnitus ringing through his head.

The sounds outside: recycled air pumping through the vents (like the ship itself was breathing); the chunky beeps and boops of ...