“Great,” I said. “How? Do you have a password or cheat code or something?”

  Lee laughed. “Cheat code? Are you thinking the test Kee set up works like a video game? There are parts that might, I suppose, but no. This is real. I can tell you which parts of the control system you need to manipulate to get through the test.”

  “That is kind of a like a video game,” I said. “You go to Reddit and there’s always someone who got stuck at the same point and a bunch of answers on how to get past it. Some of them even work.”

  I could imagine his shrug as he said, “Whatever. I don’t play those games. This is different. It’s about proving your skill and understanding. Well, and raw power.”

  Glancing over at Prentkos and Spark, I noticed Spark watching me with a hint of a smile. Prentkos, by contrast, observed me out of the corner of his eye, likely having realized that I was otherwise engaged.

  I thought back, “I’m not confident of the power, skill, or understanding. I’m nowhere near 1000 years old. Magnus is and he made it to the Singularity already.”

  Lee muttered something that existed between the word “Bah,” and a snort. “Magnus doesn’t understand shit. He’s got power to work with because he’s been alive for a long time, but the only reason he’s gotten anywhere is because he’s got a tool to impersonate Kee. If you had that, you’d already be running this whole place. Him? He’s barely figured out anything.

  “What you’ve got to understand, Nick, is that I’ve put a lot of work into making sure that I’d have a human around who could use this thing if something happened to me. You’re not the only option, but right now, you’re the best one. You’ve been trained both by me and Kee, the person who created this thing. You’re an engineer and inventor and exactly the kind of person who can figure this technology out. Personality-wise, you’re enough like Nataw that I can trust you’re not going to try to take over the galaxy with the device. And finally, you’ve got enough power, kid. I can feel it through our connection. You can do this.”

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  I was glad he believed that because I didn’t know where to begin. “Okay, but you could do it better. Can we get you out? You know how this thing works. I’ve got all the stuff young artificers get when they visit—life support, messaging, and now access to the control center. Could I direct enough power to you for you to break out? Or is there someplace that you could message with a command?”

  “No,” Lee said, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Spark’s lips twitch.

  Lee continued, “Kee set up the system for imprisoning artificers because we knew we’d need it. I’m sure the only reason we can talk is that Magnus didn’t specifically say to cut off communication and Spark is helping him as little as she possibly can.

  “Let’s get moving. You need to get control of the connection to the Singularity and the Singularity itself once you get there. If you’re in a control center, you can sense controls and touch them. If you sense one that feels big, that’s the one you need to go to the Singularity. It’ll require power to use, but you’ve got it—push.”

  I felt my eyebrow rise. “It’ll be that easy? I push and then I’m in?”

  “Oh no. I mean, maybe, but expect the push to be an endurance test as well as a strength test. Plus, Magnus will notice eventually. I don’t know what he’ll do then, but he’ll do something. Maybe he’ll send someone. Maybe he’ll try to shut down your access. It depends on how good he is.

  “Now,” Lee continued, “once you’ve made it there, you’ll be in the true center of the device. When you’re in the Singularity, you’ll be able to sense all of the controls. I can’t guess which will get your attention. If you want my advice, get Magnus’ token. It’ll be physical. If you don’t see it or you can’t get it, you need to get control of the security system somehow. Full control will allow you to release Nataw and me. When you sense that control, it’ll feel like sensing lightning, but it won’t be the only one like that. Out of that group, it’ll be the one that makes you feel the most hesitant.”

  “I’ll know it by its feeling?” I asked.

  “Pretty much,” he said.

  “Are you two the only prisoners?”

  “Oh…” Lee considered that for a moment. “I didn’t leave anyone in here, but it’s under orders to trap anyone who tries to destroy it as well as unruly guests. So, maybe. Don’t worry about that for now. Go to the Singularity and get back to me.”

  I tried to sense a control that felt “big,” giving the room a once over, and to my surprise, I found it.

  Reaching out, I grabbed it with my “phantom limbs,” finding that it barely moved at all. Focusing my attention on it, I “pushed.”