The nervousness is understandable, all things considered. Even when Pepper knew how to summon, she'd been nervous for a little while as she learned her limits. Gene's question is not an easy one to answer, since each of them will have a personal method for summoning and anchoring a ka here, and Pepper has the benefit of the dueling gauntlet.

"Well, I think probably the best thing would be to think back to your shadow test, and what it felt like the first time you could sense Tolui was there with you," she suggests. "Focus on that. He'll be there when you reach for him, at least to talk to, even if you can't summon him physically yet."