The Final Six (The Final Six #1) - Alexandra Monir Page 0,37

solution. But after that, I thought my hacking days were behind me. I haven’t touched this flash drive since then—but my brother had the foresight to make sure I didn’t leave it behind.

The thought gives me a burst of excitement even as a chill of fear runs down my spine. I know why Sam did this. He’s counting on me to get the inside intel that could stop this mission and bring the Twenty-Four home . . . but would I actually dare to infiltrate NASA computers?

On one hand, if my suspicions about the dangers and extraterrestrials are right, I would be protecting my fellow finalists—but after tonight, I’m not so sure they want to be protected. Is it at all possible that what’s out there on Europa is the lesser of two evils?

I drop the drive back into its envelope. I can’t make any hasty decisions—not when the possibility of getting caught hacking NASA would land me in jail, maybe even for life. For now, until I decide what to do . . . the most important thing is to make sure the drive stays hidden.

Nine

LEO

THE SECOND DAY OF TRAINING DAWNS, AND WE ARE THRUST back into the ISTC’s breakneck pace, with no more word from Dr. Takumi about the China tragedy. It’s as though we’ve grown so conditioned to natural disaster that we can only spare one night to reflect before it’s on to the next. Still, I can feel the shadow of last night’s news hanging over all of us at breakfast, underscoring the urgency of our mission, as Lark talks us through the training day to come. My stomach clenches at the sight of Jian Soo, showing up to the cafeteria with puffy, red-rimmed eyes and a stricken expression. Both of us will have to harness our grief while we are here—to let it propel us forward instead of backward.

After breakfast, Lark leads us through a series of corridors into the virtual reality lab: a vast space centered around a 360-degree video screen, its walls climbing with electronics and wires, the ceilings blinking with LED sensors and tracking cameras. Three swivel chairs sit in front of the screen, each with a joystick attached to an armrest. Stacked on each seat are a headset, boxy chest rig, and sensor-laden gloves. My fingers twitch in anticipation. It looks like we’re preparing to infiltrate a video game.

“Good morning, finalists.” General Sokolov steps into the room through a rear door, an ISTC tablet glimmering in her hands. The six of us stand at attention, giving her the military salute Lark taught us to return her greeting.

“Today, you’re going to experience the most high-tech training system astronauts have ever received on Earth,” she begins. “Once you’re hooked up to the equipment and sensors, the software known as DOUG—Dynamic Onboard Ubiquitous Graphics—will start modeling on the screen the very sights and scenes you’ll find in space from your vantage point on the Pontus. At the same time, your headsets provide a 3D virtual representation, plunging you straight into the action, while your seats move in sync with the simulation. So, sitting in this chair and donning the gear will take you as close as anyone on Earth can get to deep space—without ever leaving this room. You’ll find yourselves surprised by how lifelike it feels.”

Awesome. Asher and I exchange a grin.

“Today’s simulation places you near Jupiter orbit at the tail end of your journey to Europa, spacewalking during a pre-landing equipment check,” the general continues. “Three of you will be outside the Pontus performing your EVAs, connected to the ship by a tether. You’ll initially hear instructions from me through your headsets, but the purpose of the sim is to see how each of you reacts during an emergency scenario—one that just might require you to use your backup jetpacks.” The corners of her mouth turn up in a conspiratorial half smile. “Your goal is to make it back to the airlock in one piece, with your teammates, by the end of the sim. The three of you will be able to communicate with each other via your headset radios, just as you will in a real-life EVA. Got it?”

We all nod, though I can tell from the faces around me that I’m not the only one wondering exactly how this is going to play out. I watch as General Sokolov peers down at her tablet, giving it a series of swipes—and then the door behind us blows open, followed by the