The Navigator shook her head. “It was taking too long, we don’t want to stay out in the open like this. Besides …” She raised both hands and wiggled her fingers. “I’m all good now.”

Bulco’s eyes were also wide. “Damn, girl, you’re one crazy ass kid you know that? Don’t even think of trying that shit on me. Not unless you want to hear an old man scream.”

“Don’t worry, you’re safe.” Nori looked down at Nathan who had started stirring. “Lana, I think he’s coming around.”

The younger woman hurried toward her and leaned over the young man. His eyelids were fluttering and the whites of his eyes were no longer showing. “Nathan? Nathan, are you alright?”

He opened his eyes and smiled weakly at her. He looked extremely tired.

Lana let out a relieved sigh. “You really had me worried there, you know? The excavator almost killed you - three times!”

Nathan winced in pain as he strained to stand.

“Here, let me help you.”

Lana helped him to his feet and the young man curiously took in the sight of the immobile machine.

“Nathan,” Lana hesitated. “Did you … did you help me hack it?”

He nodded, and his expression became haunted, almost fearful.

“You did what?” Lana exclaimed

“What’s he saying?” Nori asked.

“He tried to control the excavator using his Path, but it took too much out of him. Instead, he helped me by lowering its defenses, but the strain was too great and he fainted.” She huffed, looking at the pale young man. “You shouldn’t have done that; you didn’t know what would happen … you could have died!”

Nathan nodded again and closed his eyes. Visions and feelings from the brief moment he allowed the Tec to grab at him flashed in his mind. He shivered. He almost lost control of himself trying to form the connection. If he hadn’t fainted …

“Kid,” Bulco said to the still-aggravated Expert, his hands shaking as he rose into a sitting position. “If he hadn’t done that we’d all be dead by now.”

She huffed. “Doesn't mean I have to like it.”

“What’s to like?” the large man grunted. “Let's just hope we didn’t risk our lives for nothing. We still need to check what’s inside those containers.”

“Lana?” Nori looked at her.

“Alright. I’ll go check.”

“We hoped you’d volunteer.”

The young Expert approached one of the containers and activated the terminal mounted on its side.

Inthidlon standard container

Trinium alloy: 35 tons

Balatium alloy: 15 tons

“Jackpot!” she called excitedly. “Thirty-five tons of Tritium and fifteen tons of something called Balatium.”

Nori frowned. “Isn’t it just a bit too convenient? We found the exact thing we were looking for.”