I looked around as I started undoing the clasps on the suit. This cargo bay was different than the other one. The containers were different colors—red, yellow, black—and much bigger. More like the haunted shipping containers that lined the old train station back home. And the room was even bigger than Tyler’s cargo bay.

“What’s in here?” I said as I started to shrug out of the top of my suit.

“Ah. All kinds of things. This half over here is food. Weapons. Medical equipment. The base is a bit of a holding station for a lot of SpaceTech’s goods.”

That made sense. “And the other half?” I sat down to kick off the boots.

He gave me a look like I was crazy for asking, but answered me anyway. “Lucole.”

“Right.” Because SpaceTech didn’t have more than enough in the other bays, but at least that held up with what Tyler had told me. “There’s a lot of stuff in here.”

“Enough to supply the colonies for a long while.”

Jesus. That was even more than I thought. “I never realized that Abaddon held so much of SpaceTech’s assets.” This guy seemed to want to spill, and I had about a minute to hear him out.

“Oh yeah. It’s important. SpaceTech loses this base, the whole thing goes to shit.”

I filed that away as I finished slipping off my suit. “Well, it’s a good thing no one is coming up against SpaceTech.”

“Only a moron would even try. Those Murtaghs know what the hell they’re doing.”

I shook my head. He bet against me and was a Murtagh fan? Tyler needed some better friends. “I better get going. Thanks again.”

“No worries. Todo está bien.”

“Right.” Maybe for Javier it was all good, but I was running late. “Mind if I leave this here? It’s basically trash now.”

“No preocupes. Matt’s coming by anyhow. I’ll give it to him for recycling.”

I started to leave, but Javier caught my hand. “What?”

“One second. You’re going to need this.” I was annoyed as I waited for him to come back, but once I saw what was in his hands, I was glad he’d stopped me.

I took the water tube and electrolyte packet from his hand. “Thank you.” I ripped the packet open with my teeth, downed it in one gulp, and chased it with some water.

“No problem. Tyler would be pissed if I let you go without it. Guy’s bigger than me, so gotta keep him happy.”

I gave Javier a nod and exited the cargo bay, checking my wrist unit as I went. I had two minutes before the test started, and it was two floors up. I started sprinting, and my vision blurred for a second. I twisted open the top of the tube and chugged the water down as I ran.