Our Hope

17 - Hope

One month later. Friday morning.

"Ansh and Sai handed in their first trial yesterday. Professor Kain said it was over 50%," Hope said, angrily.

They had set up the computer and 3D-printer at Hope's house in the den. Cole sat in front of the screen and Hope was next to him. They were shoulder-to-shoulder and the light from the display brightened the dark room. Since she realized she was in love with him, whenever their bodies touched like this, it filled her with the urge to embrace him and confess her feelings. Maria helped her push that aside and re-focus on what is most important. She still had to win, so she glanced down at her Betrothed bracelet, re-focused, and went back to work.

"There's no way they could have designed it and printed it this fast," Cole said while he typed hastily. They quieted their voices to not wake her parents.

"I think someone did it for him. Nothing else makes sense," Maria whispered from the seated position on Hope's couch. She read from her viewer.

Hope took a swig from Maria's thermos that she filled with piping hot coffee. It burnt her tongue. The sweetened flavor helped snowball her addiction. She required caffeine every day because it made her more productive by allowing her to concentrate more over longer periods of time.

"Like his cousin?" Cole questioned.

"I don't know. I'll try to find out," Maria said.

"OK. I designed smaller solar cells so they will take up less space." He clicked on the new solar panel image on the bottom and dragged them onto the map.

Hope took control and zoomed in on Cole's blueprint. She examined its feasibility and checked if the materials he used were readily available on Mars. That is essential for every item they designed. Professor Kain would verify that first. Dr. Bettencourt's vision was to have an entirely sustainable system, so they did not rely on Earth. Although, they manufacture the 3D-printers on Earth, and she planned on addressing that once they arrived.

"When did you come up with this?" she asked Cole.

"During Kain's class. He basically told everybody how to do it at the beginning of class, but no one else paid attention."

"I heard him and made a note about it, but I did not apply it to our project."

"Well, I did," Cole beamed.

"That's amazing but you placed them horizontally."

Cole did not respond.

"Look! The sheet is thin, but you still have four inches to work with..." Hope held her forefinger and thumb four inches apart in front of Cole.

"And?" Cole shrugged his shoulders.

"... and if you line them vertically you conserve more space and still allow them to receive sunlight." Hope did the same thing on the computer program. She lined them up vertically on the screen.

"Wow!" Maria jumped up between Cole and Hope with her arms around their shoulders. "That's impressive. I hope it works."

"Name Jinx!" Hope reached over and pinched his arm. This time she did it harder, trying to brand him for when he would be with Skye.

"Goddammit!" Cole shouted and rubbed his arm. "You're not supposed to injure me."

"Concentrate!" Hope gestured toward the screen and they returned to the design.

Hope's alarm vibrated. It pulled her from this project and back into reality. "It's time to eat. We'll continue this when we return."

They strolled to Hope's kitchen, but her mom was not awake.