We went up three flights of stairs, my feet clanging on the metal steps. At the top, Ahiga placed his hand on a scanner, then started pushing buttons. “The map on your wrist unit will help you figure out what they mean, but WQ361 is the women’s quarters. It says here you’ll share the space with seven other women, although there’s room for more should the need arise.” He paused his motions. “All right. Hand here.”

When I didn’t move fast enough, he grabbed my right hand and pressed it to the scanner. The energy passed through me, making my teeth ache. There was a series of beeps, and then it was quiet.

“Okay,” he said as he dropped my wrist. “You’re good to go. You’ll only have access to the areas that you’re approved for. Restrooms. The mess. Women’s quarters and their adjoining baths. And Cargo Bay One. That’s where you’ll need to report in the morning.”

Ahiga placed his palm on the door again. A screen lit up, saying that it was alerting anyone inside that someone was coming in, and gave a thirty-second countdown.

I gave him a questioning look.

“I’m a man opening the women’s quarters. I have the rank to go into almost any room on this base, but it gives those inside a warning if they need to cover up.” After a minute, there was a series of clicks and beeps before the lock clanked. He swung the door open. “Welcome to your new home.”

The room was bigger than I expected. Ten bunk beds ran along opposite walls, all of them gray metal with gray sheets and blankets. A few had clothes and personal items strewn over them, giving the room its only hint of life. Thin mattresses were rolled up on the others, resting against the heads of the beds.

At the end of the room was a doorway, but no actual door. Beyond it was a row of sinks with a mirrored wall above them. I figured the bathroom had to be somewhere past that—hopefully showers, too. I needed one desperately. The smell coming off of me wouldn’t help me make any friends.

The room wasn’t much, but it was clean and open, which meant it was already light-years better than prison.

Aside from the things in the room, it was empty. “Where’s everyone?”

“It’s dinner time. They’ll be in the mess, but I bet you’re not hungry?”

I shook my head. Maybe it was the heat or the stress of trying to absorb everything about the base as quickly as I could, but I had zero appetite.

“It usually takes a day or two after cryo before you’re back to a normal eating schedule. The chambers keep you well stocked with cals to get you through the trip. They always overdo it a bit, and with your reaction to—”