Envoy has Icarus practicing meditation and other methods of gathering power that mages use, but also decides to test if he can use the crystal battery she accidentally created.

After explaining about how to synchronize to a crystal, Envoy has Icarus try by just watching it – and soon enough the colors of his eyes sync up with the battery. He attempts to float the crate he previously crushed, and Envoy monitors the process. She discovers that Icarus uses very little power, if only because he is very efficient. She thinks she can apply the principles to her own spells as well.

Further, Icarus is able to unfold the ball back into its original crate shape (albeit a bit wrinkly). Envoy is very impressed, and thinks Icarus deserves to have some actual fun now – but an interruption occurs as the hangar doors begin to open, so she has the boy hide in the bathroom until she can determine who it is.

Who it is turns out to be Walter P. Thorndike III, adventurer-scientist turned showman, looking for a place to stash his dimension-hopping time machine – apparently the Kampfzengruppe got wind of it, and have been after him because of it.

Walter agrees to help construct a vehicle for Envoy and Icarus, as well as the fix the plumbing. He gets on well with Icarus too, and Envoy is glad to have a male role-model around for the boy.