“The time postern would have changed all that,” I said. “If we could go back in time, warn the Iamoi of what was to come—we could change history.” Perhaps even create a world like Isaak’s, that had no memory of this time, no knowledge of the System or recollection of the Progression. “If the people knew what was going to happen,” I went on, “surely they would stop. Find new methods of harvesting energy, ones that wouldn’t have such a drastic impact on the atmosphere.”

Isaak burst out laughing. I looked up from the System panel, folding my arms. “What’s so funny?”

“I’m sorry. It’s not funny. It’s just… it’s kind of ironic. Never mind. So I’m guessing the geroi nixed the time postern idea?”

“‘Nixed’ is not a word I’m familiar with,” I muttered. I don’t know why I was letting this foreign boy get under my skin so much. I needed to focus.

Ceilos said, “Nadin and her tutor presented their design to the gerotus, but they rejected the proposal. They said it would be too much of a drain on our resources.”

“They didn’t believe it would work,” I said. “But now we have proof that it does. I just need to show them the plans—and you.”

“What do I have to do with it?” Isaak asked.

“You say you were born on Iamos.” I pressed the panel’s submit key. “Which means the atmosphere returns. Which means Gitrin’s theory works.”

Isaak frowned. “Actually—”

“Dataset not found.”

I made a noise of aggravation. “What is wrong with this thing?”

Ceilos came to stand beside me, looking at the panel. “The data isn’t here,” he said.

“But it has to be here. We spent over a year working on it. It should be right here.”

“But it’s not.”

The full meaning of his words washed over me, bringing a wave of nausea with it. It wasn’t that I couldn’t find it. It was that it was gone. “It’s been deleted? But who would delete it?”

“The geroi?” Isaak suggested.

I glared at him. “Of course not. What purpose would that serve? The geroi have more important things to do with their time than whimsically manipulate the System. It must have been Gitrin.”

Ceilos looked unconvinced. “But why would Gitrin—”

I waved the panel away, turning on my heel. “She must have. She is up to something, and I have had enough of her deceit.”

“Wait, Nadin! Where are you going?” Isaak cried as I reached for the door handle.

His voice brought me back to reality. The geroi had given me an assignment. I couldn’t just leave him. I couldn’t disobey a directive, not after last night. I needed to prove myself to them. This was my last chance, or I’d lose Ceilos—I’d lose everything.