“Of course.” He patted the top of the box. “I have a bunch of harvested neutral crystals here that you can tap all day if you want. Every crystal sounds a little different, but you’ll get a feel for them. After that, we’ll do some simulations of unharvestable ones. You’ll get a feel for those tones, too. Then we’ll do simulations with a mix of crystal types so that you get used to making a choice. We won’t leave here today until you’ve got it. Your first run’s tomorrow.”

All the air whooshed out of me with his last statement. “Tomorrow?” That seemed too soon. “I thought I’d have more training.”

“Usually, it’s a couple days of training, then a readiness assessment, and then once you pass that, it’d be time for a first run. But the order is for you to get an accelerated version. It’s bullshit, but most of SpaceTech is.” He gave me a hard look. “Especially when it comes to you.”

Right. I wasn’t their average volunteer. I gave myself a second to come to terms with that and then soldiered on. “Okay. Tell me everything I need to know.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

After a couple hours of Carl and his theories on how to stay alive, my brain was filled to the brim and then some. He was starting to give me a theory about how he thought the crystals might actually be living beings—which was making me question his sanity—when someone knocked on the door.

Carl turned toward the sound. “Come in.”

Ahiga entered. “I need to speak with Ms. Martinez.”

Carl waved him forward. “Go ahead.”

“Alone.”

Carl swiped a finger through the air, most likely checking the time. “I guess it’s time for a break anyhow. I have some other work to prepare for tomorrow. Meet me back here at thirteen hundred.”

I nodded. “I’ll be here.”

As soon as the door closed behind Carl, I turned to Ahiga as he walked down the stairs to the front of the room.

He always looked serious, but right then the stiffness in his shoulders made me think something awful was about to happen. “What’s going on? Did you hear something?”

“Not yet, but I have someone that wants to talk to you.” He made a few motions with his finger, and the screen that had been displaying some frequency charts went black.

I had a second to wonder who it could be before Declan appeared on the screen.

“Maité?” Declan asked.

I leaned back in my chair as I blinked, trying to believe that it was him. He was really there on the screen. I—I couldn’t believe it.

“Hi.” It was lame, but I didn’t have any words. Seeing his face meant that maybe I was going to be okay. Like, really okay. “Is this line secure?”