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  Mom drapes her arm about my shoulders as we walk away from the fence. “You and I,” she says, as she smoothes my hair with her free hand, “are a force to be reckoned with, Ann Cooper Solano.”

  I don’t bother to correct her version of my name. “The Earth won’t know what hit it.”

  “Not at first, anyway.” Mom hugs me closer, forcing me to shorten my stride. “But eventually, everyone will know of our magnificence.”

  I glance at her face. Her jaw is set, her lips drawn into a thin line. There’s no question she’s determined to achieve her goals, one way or the other.

  With or without me.

  I pull the handle of the door that leads into the living quarters and motion for Mom to walk in ahead of me. “Here we are, home sweet home.”

  She turns in the open doorway to level me with a chilling stare. “This is not home, Ann. Don’t forget that. This will never be our home.”

  I swallow hard and nod in agreement before following her down the hall to our quarters.

  ***

  I can’t sleep. Dace’s astonished face and Raid’s angry one keep swimming before my eyes. There’s only one person I want to talk to. I wonder if she’s in her room.

  It’s worth a shot—better than lying here staring at the ceiling. I swing my feet over the edge of my bed, feeling with my toes for the slippers I kicked off earlier. I throw a loose jacket over the T-shirt I wear as a nightgown and slip out of my tiny bedroom—barely large enough to fit a single bed, built-in closet, and dresser—and make my way to our front door. By the variety of snore patterns, I can tell everyone else is asleep.

  Emie’s family quarters are one hall over. As I pass the door to the rooms where Raid and his mother live, I hesitate. No, I can’t talk to Raid now. It’s better if he stays angry with me. Perhaps it won’t hurt so much when I leave.

  The door to Emie’s quarters is unlocked—not unusual on Eco. I slip into the living area and tiptoe to Emie’s bedroom door, using two knuckles to tap our secret code. I glance about the living area; it looks just like ours, except for the clutter. Emie’s mother is less organized than Mom—one reason I always feel more comfortable in this space.

  Emie’s dark head pokes out from behind the door. “Ann. What’s up?”

  “Can I come in? Need to talk.” I don’t wait for an answer. I push past Emie, take a few steps, and flop onto her narrow bed.

  “Sure. Make yourself at home.” Emie closes the door and stands very still, staring at me.

  “So, what was up with you earlier?” I sit up and pat the hard mattress. “Come—talk to me. We haven’t talked, really talked, in ages.”

  Emie crosses to the bed. There’s a puffiness beneath her dark eyes that tells me she’s been crying. “It’s the middle of the night.”

  “We’ve talked all night plenty of times,” I remind her, as she settles beside me.

  “Yes, but that was before we had real jobs.” Emie uses both hands to smooth down her unruly curls. “You know how demanding Ivana is. She works me to death.”

  “I know. I lucked out with my grandmother. As long as I get my assigned chores done, she doesn’t force me to put in any specific number of hours.” I study Emie’s face. “You’ve been crying. Why?”

  Emie waves her hand before her face. “Oh, nothing. It’s silly. You wouldn’t get it, anyway.”

  “Kam?” She’s right; I wouldn’t understand shedding any tears over her boyfriend.

  “No, nothing to do with Kam, or boys. More important.”

  “Oh? Spill.” I lean back on my elbows and stare at the metal ceiling.

  “It’s just … ” The hesitation in Emie’s voice doesn’t negate the vibrancy of her tone. “Okay, here’s the thing. I chatted with some of the crew of the Augusta Ada this evening. That’s why I left the game room early—I wanted a chance to talk to them without … ”

  “Kam?” I glance over at Emie’s solemn face. “So—you arranged a convo with some cybers?”

  “Yes. Calla and Jacobi. They were keeping watch over the cargo hold.” Emie chews on her pinky nail before continuing. “I saw them earlier in the day and decided I had to speak with them.”

  “What about?” I sit up and watch Emie closely, a little afraid she’s uncovered my lie regarding Captain Patel and his offer.

  “Their lives, mostly. How they came to be cybers, what it’s like.” Emie lays her hand on my arm. “Did you know it can take over twenty operations just to fix one major injury? And they often have multiple injuries. Just imagine how hard it must be.”

  I recall Calla’s artificial face. “I have. It makes me want to puke.”

  “Think how it makes them feel.” Emie’s tone sharpens. “They are people, not cybers. People with replacement parts, but human just like you and me.” Her black eyes flash. “It isn’t fair, Ann. They give their all, and what happens? They either spend their lives maimed and crippled or they accept the cyber parts. And once they do, what then? Everyone shuns them. Earth bars them entry. They aren’t even allowed to visit their families unless it’s off-world.”

  “That does suck,” I admit. “But they knew the dangers when they signed up … ”

  Emie continues as if I hadn’t spoken. “Did you know that Jacobi has children? Including one he’s never seen, except by holo. And Calla has a sister who’s very ill. She’ll never see her again in person. Neither one of them can hold their loved ones, can even touch their hands. It isn’t right, Ann. It just isn’t.” Tears sparkle on Emie’s dark lashes.

  “Yes, but what can we do? Not like we have any influence.” I frown, realizing I’m not getting any advice out of Emie tonight.

  “There must be something.” Emie looks me over. “I know we’re isolated here, but we do have holo messaging and ships that stop by and all. We could start a protest or maybe some kind of online petition, or … I don’t know. But there must be something.” She slumps back onto the bed. “I just don’t want to be one of those people, like in the holodiscs. Those who witnessed injustice and did nothing.”

  “Well, you’re the computer whiz, or at least you’re apprenticed to the guru. You could probably figure out a way to, you know, hack a few sites … ”

  Emie sits up with a jolt. “Absolutely. Oh, Ann, you’re a genius.” She pulls me in for a hug.

  “Not really,” I mutter into her hair. “Emie,” I push myself away and peer into her eyes. “Don’t do anything stupid. I mean, nothing that will get you in trouble.”

  “I’m just going to exercise my rights to free speech.” There’s an expression on Emie’s face that worries me. “But, Ann, you came to me for a talk. What’s up?”

  I shrug. No use going into all that now. “Oh, nothing. Just wanted to share some stuff I learned from Dace. Not really that important.”

  “Well, I do want to discuss Dace and his scientific interests at some point.” Emie smiles. “Must be nice to have another guy crushing on you.”

  “Dace isn’t interested in me,” I say, knowing Emie will question this tomorrow when she hears about my kiss. “He’s pretty focused on his work—no time for girls.”

  “Guys our age always have time for girls. Unless they prefer boys, of course.” Emie eyes me speculatively. “Maybe that’s it?”

  “No, I don’t think so,” I reply, remembering Dace’s instinctive response to my kiss. “But like you, he has other things on his mind. By the way,” I trace the pattern on her bedspread with one finger. “I suppose I should keep your little convo with the cybers a secret from Kam?”

  “If you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t. You know how I feel about Kam. Not going to seek him out, at any rate.”

  Emie plucks at the bedspread. “That’s one reason I’m pretty sure Kam and I won’t stay together. You know, long-term. Sure, I don’t have a gazillion choices, but I think it’d be smarter to live alone than with someone who doesn’t believe in the same things I do.”

  Her expre
ssion is pensive. It’s okay, I want to say. When I’m gone, you can dump Kam and hook up with Raid— a much better arrangement. I ignore the fluttering in my stomach. I can’t be jealous, not when I’m leaving. I’ll meet thousands of new people on Earth.

  “Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy screwing around with Kam. He’s pretty damn sexy when he puts his mind to it. But that’s all it is, you know. Just some fun.”

  “Kam might feel differently.”

  “Maybe.” Emie pulls on one of her curls. “You don’t think I’m a bad person, I hope. Leading Kam on and all.”

  I snort. “No one needs to lead Kam anywhere—he jumps right in, whether he’s invited or not. I wouldn’t worry about Kameron Frye. When you feel like breaking up with him he’ll huff and puff and skulk away—right into the arms of the first under-fifteen who reaches her sixteenth birthday.”

  “I’m sure.” Emie’s smile lights up her softly rounded face. “I just want to live my life, you know? I don’t want to hurt anyone, but we’re so limited here, you have to take your fun where you can. I guess I tend to focus on today, not forever.”

  Just like Raid. I pat Emie’s arm. “Except when it comes to your causes. Never mind, I think you’re the best, sweetest person I know. Anyone who says otherwise will have to deal with me.”

  “Heaven help them,” says Emie, her smile broadening. She hugs me again. “Now you’d better head back to your quarters. I do need some sleep. I have to work with Ivana again tomorrow, remember?”

  “I know.” I tap her gently on the nose. “Sleep well. I’ll keep mum about the cybers; trust me.” I rise and make my way to the door.

  “I always do,” Emie calls after me.

  I pause with my hand on the latch and almost turn and tell her of the arrangement with Patel. But instead I simply slip out of her room and sneak back to my quarters.

  I’ll miss Emie. I know she won’t abandon Eco—not without her family, and they’ve never shown any interest in leaving this planet.

  Sliding into my bed, I consider a life without Emie. No Emie, no Raid … Stop it, I command my brain. Don’t dwell on that, think of the future. Earth is my goal, my destination, my true calling. I can’t allow anything, not even friendship, to stand in my way.

  Dace doesn’t race me today—he slows his bike so we ride side by side until we reach the rock pile.

  “Ready?” he asks, as we park our bikes and prepare to enter the cavern.

  “As I can be,” I reply. “One thing, though—if I pass out again, make sure it’s not over a sharp rock, okay?”

  Dace laughs. I must admit, he has a very nice laugh.

  “I promise.” He holds out his hand. “Come on, let’s see whether our friends are as anxious to greet us as we are to see them.”

  “Sure they’re friends?” I take his hand, noting, not for the first time, that his fingers are cool and dry and stronger than one might expect.

  “I just have that feeling,” he replies, releasing my hand as we walk into the cavern.

  When we reach the lake, Dace busies himself arranging his equipment. “I’m going to set up some new measuring tools.”

  I lean against the cave wall. “You’re really serious about this research, aren’t you?”

  “Yes.” Dace glances over at me. “That’s why … well, I think you’re interesting, Ann, and pretty, but I’m not looking for a girlfriend right now.”

  I watch him focus on adjusting one of his monitors. “And I’m not looking for a new boyfriend. That kiss—I just didn’t want you spilling the beans, okay?”

  “Okay,” replies Dace, without looking up from his busy hands.

  “Didn’t want you to get the wrong idea.”

  “I said okay.”

  The still lake is smooth as a mirror. “Think they’ll actually return?”

  “Maybe. They seemed as interested in studying us as we were in examining them.” Dace finally looks at me. “I just don’t want to come between you and your boyfriend, Ann. That’s not my thing.”

  “Good to know.” I smile at him. “Don’t worry. My plans don’t include hooking up with anyone. Not even Raid. I want to get to Earth and figure out my future from there.”

  Dace fiddles with another monitor. “I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

  This again. “I know all about the problems on Earth. But at least there, I can decide what I want to do. Here, it’s all decided for me.”

  “You mean, you take over your grandmother’s work and marry Raid?”

  “Yeah,” I walk over to him. “That.”

  “See why you’d feel trapped.” Dace moves toward the edge of the lake. “Not sure why so many of your friends seem so complacent, to tell you the truth. Pretty sure I’d feel like you do.”

  I shrug. “A lot of people on Eco, they figure there’s nothing else, so they just work and take their fun where they can find it.” I step up beside him, keeping my eyes on the water. “But my mother, she never bought into that philosophy. Always taught me to fight for any opportunity to get back to Earth.”

  “Pretty obvious that’s what she wants.” Dace glances at me. “Are you sure it’s what you want?”

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  A splash interrupts our conversation. We both stare intently at the lake as the water creature’s head breaks the surface.

  “Look,” says Dace. “There’s more than one.”

  Three more sleek heads pop up. Liquid brown eyes survey us with interest as the creatures bob in the clear water.

  Dace’s face lights up with joy. “What shall we call them? They need a name.”

  “I have no clue.” I gaze at the creatures. “They probably call themselves something, don’t you think?”

  “Probably.” He turns to me. “Maybe they’ll tell you.”

  I’ve been bracing myself for a recurrence of the sounds that flattened me yesterday. “Let’s not ask.”

  “Well, I’m going to call them the Selk. After the selkies in Earth folklore.”

  “Not familiar with that.” I make a note to research the term later. “But you can call them whatever you want, I guess. Who’s going to argue with you?”

  “Hello,” Dace says, addressing the creatures. “Do you mind if I call you the Selk?”

  Several pairs of bright eyes blink. “Apparently they’re not opposed,” I observe.

  “Oh, did they tell you?” Dace’s expression is quite serious.

  “No, no. They just seem okay with it, is all.”

  One of the Selk leaps above the surface and dives under, smooth as sand swept over rock. So they needn’t splash. I guess they meant to drench us yesterday.

  Dace grabs my forearm. “Can you try to reach out to them? With your mind, I mean. See if you can communicate with them again?”

  “Not sure I want to.” I purse my lips and stare into the Selks’ eyes. “Not fond of passing out.”

  Dace looks me up and down. “It’s a gift.”

  “In your opinion.”

  “I wish … ” Dace looks away, back toward the water creatures. “I wish I could talk to them.” He kneels and reaches out to dip his fingers in the water.

  “Careful,” I say, as he stretches out his arm.

  The Selk swim closer. I crouch down beside Dace and make a grab for his arm. “You’re leaning too far … ”

  He jerks away from me, throwing off his balance and sending him headfirst into the water.

  I shriek and fumble for my holofone before remembering that it’ll do me no good inside the cavern. I have no idea if Dace knows how to swim. Worse, it looks like he’s knocked his head against the rocky bottom of the lake. That could mean I’ll have to jump in and pull him out, and my only experience with swimming is in the virtual world.

  Dace’s body bobs just below the surface. As I cast about for something to hook his arm and pull him to shore, I notice the Selk circling. Go away. I concentrate all my mental energy into this message. Lea
ve him alone.

  Two of the Selk dive under Dace and position themselves beneath his torso. They rise up, lifting Dace to the surface of the lake. One of the creatures uses its snout to flip Dace over so his face is turned upward, out of the water.

  A vivid memory assails me—the Selk’s wide mouths, filled with sharp teeth.

  Stay away from him!

  One of the creatures swims to the shore, right where I’m standing. It rises from the water, keeping itself upright with the steady thrashing of its tail. Staring me straight in the eyes, it extends its small hands. Air.

  The word reverberates through my head. I swallow hard. Yes, air. No water.

  The Selk dips its sleek head. It sinks smoothly below the surface and swims to join the other creatures clustered around Dace’s dark form.

  I suck in a quick breath as I comprehend what’s going on. The Selk aren’t harming Dace. Two of the creatures are keeping him afloat, balancing him on their backs, while another supports his head with both paws.

  In one swift movement, the Selk who confronted me surfaces beside the group and flips Dace on his side.

  Dace sputters and spits up water. His eyes widen as he realizes where he is and what’s supporting him. He shoots me a look of pure amazement before sliding off the creatures’ backs. In the lake, with the Selk surrounding him, he treads water with casual grace.

  So he can swim. “You all right?”

  “Yes, I think so.” He slides one hand over the closest Selk’s body. “Can you tell them ‘thanks’?”

  “Not sure they know what that means.” I send the thought anyway.

  The Selk move away from Dace, using their tails to propel themselves backward while staying upright in the water. As one, they then leap and dive under the surface and glide toward the opposite side of the lake. Dace watches them for only a second before swimming after them.

  “Mierda! Where the hell are you going?” I slap my hand against my thigh. Almost drowns, then swims off with alien creatures? Who does this?

  Dace, of course. I sit on the edge of the lake’s rocky shore, dangling my feet. I’m ready to slip into the water, armed with a prayer that my virtual lessons have actually prepared me to swim.