by Vicki Weavil
“Sounds like it.” Calla studies me dispassionately. “That thought bother you?”
An image of the water creatures, leaping and diving around me, fills my mind. My grandparents could have been instrumental in their destruction, long ago, without even knowing it.
Now there’s another threat to the Selk’s existence. And I know all about it.
“I’m ready to go back now.”
“All right. Let’s ride, kid.”
“No racing,” I say, remembering Dace.
“No promises,” replies the cyber. Her lips ratchet up into that mechanical smile.
Funny. It doesn’t seem to unnerve me anymore.
It’s quiet inside the gates of the compound. Calla and I park our bikes near the rec hall and approach Trent, who’s perched on a crate beside the front doors.
“Where’d everyone go?” I ask.
Trent jerks his thumb toward the doors. “Inside, most of them. ’Cept for the Council—they called an emergency meeting.”
So my mom will be busy with that. I wonder where Dad and my grandparents are. “What’s going on in there?”
“I dunno.” Trent’s staring at Calla.
The cyber meets his fascinated gaze without blinking. “The rest of the colony’s inside?”
“Well, not everyone.” Trent drops his eyes and scratches at the scabs on his elbow. He’s being trained on the wind turbines, just like Kam. Unlike Kam, he doesn’t really have the athletic ability to do the work without incurring some injuries. “Some followed the Council to their meeting and several went back to work. The ones inside are arguing about Dace’s theory and whether we should test everyone in the colony.”
“You don’t have an opinion?” asks Calla.
“Anybody likely to listen if I did?” Trent’s blue eyes hold a glimmer of rage. He turns his focus on me. “So—sure as hell doesn’t seem like I’ll be attending a university on Earth, does it?”
“We don’t know for sure if everyone carries the same mutation … ”
“Yeah.” Trent slumps back against the metal walls of the hall. “That’s what they’re arguing about. To test or not to test.” He crosses his arms over his narrow chest and gazes moodily across the courtyard. “Doesn’t matter. If we stay here, it won’t make any difference. But if we aren’t one-hundred-percenters and try to land on Earth, we’ll be kicked back into space. So—who cares?”
“Better to know, so you don’t have false hope.” Sympathy laces Calla’s strange voice.
Trent’s disgruntled expression doesn’t change. “I suppose.”
One of the front doors bangs open and Lily dashes out. “You see Emie anywhere?” she asks Trent, before glancing over at Calla and me.
“Not recently,” he replies.
“We just got here.” I slap a spot of dust off my jeans. “Why? She missing or something?”
Lily shrugs. “She and Raid were in the rec hall with us, but they left by the back door. Said they were gonna go look for that spacer kid. Mom thinks they should’ve returned by now.”
“Dace is missing too?” I glance at Calla. “When did they leave, Lily?”
“Dace left a while ago.” Trent sits forward, gripping his knees with both hands. “I saw him head out. Going back to his ship, he said. I don’t blame him—he was catching a lot of crap from everyone.”
“Emie and Raid left soon after,” says Lily. “Maybe they’re all at the ship? I can run and check.”
“No,” says Calla. “I should return to the Ada anyway. You stay here—tell your parents that Ann and I will send the others back if we find them.”
Lily frowns, looking just like her older sister. It occurs to me Emie might not be thrilled to see me. We’ll have to sort that out sooner or later. “Yeah, you two stay here. We’ll check it out.”
Calla and I walk off, ignoring Trent and Lily’s protests.
“Stubbornness seems a common trait on Eco,” observes Calla, as we make our way to the back gate.
“They’re probably pretty confused over this DNA thing.” I glance over my shoulder to make sure the younger kids aren’t following. “It’s a shock, you know.”
“I know about shock.” Calla swings the gate open. “You get over it.”
I eye her speculatively for a second. “Really?”
“No.” Calla fastens the gate behind us and strides toward the Augusta Ada without looking at me again.
As we approach the cargo bay, a noise makes us both stop in our tracks. It’s obviously human, though no words are distinguishable.
“Someone’s in pain.” Calla runs toward the far side of the ship.
I follow closely on her heels. As we round the back fins of the spacecraft, Raid stumbles out of the shadows.
There’s blood caked on his lower lip and a violet bruise stains his left temple. He staggers toward us, slumping into the side of the ship a few feet from Calla.
She rushes to him and offers an arm to prop him up. “What the hell happened to you, kid?”
“Fight.” Raid’s voice cracks on the word.
I dash to his other side and slide an arm around his back, helping Calla keep him on his feet. “You okay? Who hit you?”
He gazes at me, his pupils slightly dilated. “Ann. Happy to see you. Thought maybe they’d grabbed you too.”
There’s a ball of acid rolling up the back of my throat. I want to slap whoever did this to him. Hard. “Your mom needs to take a look at this bump.” I smooth the hair back from his temple with my free hand. “Wait a minute—grabbed me too? Who else did they grab?”
Raid straightens, pulling away from Calla’s arm, though his body still rests against mine. “Dace and Emie. You need to do something.” He stares into Calla’s strange eyes. “Tell your captain, get some help … ”
“Who took them?” Calla’s gloved fingers slide across the butt of her laser pistol.
“Kam. His dad and uncle. A few others. Wanted Dace to show them the way to the caverns, where he found that mineral.” Raid licks his lips and wipes the dried blood away with the back of his hand. “Knocked me out when I got in the way. Guess I was lucky they didn’t shoot me.”
Calla’s fingers tighten on her pistol. “They have guns?”
“Yeah. Only way they got Dace to go. Threatened to hurt Emie.” Raid looks down at me. “He’s brave, the little scientist. I’ll give him that.”
I can’t believe this. Emie and Dace, taken away at gunpoint? I lock my knees to prevent my legs from buckling. I clutch at Raid’s shirt. “Kam wouldn’t hurt Emie. He couldn’t. He’s in love with her … ”
Black eyebrows disappear under the hair spilling over Raid’s forehead. “She dumped him, remember? Anyway, it’s Kam. He liked screwing around with her. But love? Not sure the guy knows what that is.”
“Anything else? I mean, have any idea of their plan?” asks Calla.
“Well, they also had a sonic cannon. I saw it, and some explosives stuffed in the back of one of the rovers.” Raid frowns. “I expect they plan to blast something at the cavern—try to open up the entrance maybe. Not sure.”
Calla appears lost in thought. “Wait here. I’ll be right back.” She heads for the cargo bay.
Raid leans against the smooth metal hull of the ship. “Thought you’d be pissed at me.”
“I was, for a while. But then I had time to think, and … I don’t know. I guess I actually agree with what you and Dace did. Protecting the Selk, I mean.” I keep my eyes down and focus on brushing some dirt from the sleeve of his shirt. “Even if it means exposing my secret.”
“Our secret.” Raid lays his hand over my moving fingers. “I’ve obviously got the same mutation, Ann. It’s not like you’re alone in this, you know.”
Meeting his intense gaze, I curl my fingers around his hand. “I know.”
“You should have seen Emie. She fought them off until Kam pulled the gun. But she got him good.”
“Kn
eed him?”
“Right in the nuts.” Raid’s lips curl into a smile that quickly disappears when his cut opens and bleeds again. “Damn.”
I reach up and wipe away the blood with my free hand. “Looks like you fought back too.”
“For all the good it did.”
“It did good.” I stand on tiptoes and kiss him softly on the lips. “You did good.”
Calla reappears, clutching something in her fist. “Okay, here’s what I think. You two have a connection with those water creatures, right? Maybe you can warn them somehow?” She examines Raid. “That is, if you feel up to it.”
“I can manage,” Raid replies.
“So you do that while I round up some reinforcements. Your dad, Ann, and your grandparents … ”
“My mother, Mia Lin.” Raid straightens and steps away from the support of the ship. “She’s a medic—could be useful.”
“All right. And the captain, of course, and Jacobi. Anyone else?”
“Emie’s parents—the Winstons. Ask my dad to grab a few others.” I release my hold on Raid’s hand and meet his determined gaze. “Sure you feel like traveling anywhere?”
“I can do it. Emie’s out there, and Dace. I’d rather do something, anything, than stand around here.”
Calla holds out her hand. In her palm is a small bottle. “Take it. There are two pills inside. You each swallow one.”
“What is it?” I take the bottle from her hand and hold it up to the light. Two tiny metallic balls roll around inside.
“Trackers.” Calla shrugs. “Don’t look surprised. Told you I was former military. This way, I can find either one of you, wherever you end up.”
“Is it permanent?” Raid extends his hand.
I drop one of the pills into his palm. I tip the bottle and swallow the other.
“No.” The faint hint of a smile twitches Calla’s mouth. “It passes.”
Raid grimaces, but pops the pill. “Nice,” he says, wiping his mouth. He smoothes back his unruly hair before turning to me. “You know how to handle a rover? Not sure I should be driving.”
“Sure. How hard can it be?” I plaster a smile on my face.
“Comforting.” Raid taps my nose with one finger. “Oh well, I can talk you through it.”
Calla reaches out and lays a hand on my arm. Her gloved fingers are surprisingly warm. “You two be careful. I wouldn’t send you, but it’ll take some time to gather a solid backup team, and I think somebody better warn those creatures as soon as possible.”
“Not a problem,” I say. Although, given Raid’s battered condition and my less than stellar fighting skills, I suspect we have a very big problem indeed.
But Kam and his crew might be planning something that could harm a lot of Selk. And they have Dace and Emie.
“Let’s go.” I take Raid’s hand and pull him toward the small fleet of solar-powered vehicles. I’ve never driven a rover on my own, but it can’t be much harder than riding a bike. I think.
“Meet you there,” calls Calla. “With back-up. Stay safe!”
I tighten my lips and pick up speed to keep pace with Raid’s longer strides. I really hope we can fulfill that last request.
I manage to maneuver one of the four-wheeled rovers over Eco’s terrain with only a few pointers from Raid. It involves some shouting, but really, not too much instruction.
Raid spots the tracks of two other rovers. They lead directly toward the first cavern entrance. I veer away from the tracks, earning another barrage of shouts from Raid.
“Oh, shut up!” I spin the steering wheel sharply to dodge a large rock. “We don’t want to just drive up on them, do we?”
Raid removes his hands from his temples to grip his knees. I’m sure the bumpy ride isn’t doing his head any favors. I reach over to pat his arm.
“Hands on the wheel!” Raid shouts.
I shoot him a glare. “Who’s driving?”
“Hell if I know.” Raid braces one hand against the dashboard. “Never seen you act so reckless before.”
“Never had reason to.” I focus on my surroundings. The rock pile that covers the first cavern lies off to our right, the entrance hidden by a dip in the landscape. I can just see light flash off the metal roll bars of one of the rovers. “Going around.” I raise my voice to cut through the sound of rushing air. “Alternate entrance. Dace and I found it.”
“When you went for that swim?” Raid’s body is jolted into mine.
“Yeah.” I spare him a quick glance. His left eye is swelling. “That kiss … ”
“Never mind.” Raid slides away from me, his words brighter than his expression. “I’ve kissed other people too.”
I suspected as much, but hearing it stated so bluntly makes the muscles of my heart contract. “Well, sure.” I lean forward, peering at the landscape before me while I studiously avoid Raid’s eyes. “Anyway, we’re almost there.”
My foot hits the brake as I spy a circle of stones—the upper edge of the open-air pool where Dace and I discovered one of the Selks’ food sources. The sudden stop slams Raid’s knees into the dash.
He lets loose a colorful riff of popular obscenities.
“Sorry.” I jump out of the rover. “Need any help?”
“No.” Raid climbs out of the passenger side of the vehicle. “Safer without your assistance.”
I add a few choice words of my own before taking his arm. “We have to climb down. Okay?”
Raid stares into the depths of the vegetation-clogged pool. “Okay. But you walk behind me. If I fall, no use knocking you over too.”
“Just hug the rock wall,” I say, guiding him to the steep path that zigzags along one side of the natural well.
We make our way down, placing one foot in front of the other with a precision born of fear. I don’t know if Raid’s as terrified as I am, but I notice the blanched knuckles on the hand he slides along the rock wall.
Reaching the bottom, Raid expels a loud breath and slumps to the ground. “Now what?”
He looks terrible. The bruise glows purple against his skin, which has been drained of all its natural color. I kneel beside him. “Now we swim.”
Raid narrows his good eye into a slit. The other eye is now almost closed. “Never mentioned swimming. Don’t know how.”
“Neither did I. All I’d ever done was play around with virtual sim stuff. I know you’ve done the same.” I lightly rest my hands on his shoulders and examine his face. “But I can go by myself, if you want.”
“Hell no.” Raid brushes away my hands and struggles to his feet. “Where do we jump in? Here?”
“Uh, no. We can walk for a bit.” I direct him toward the passage that leads to the second cavern. “There’s another pool, further on. Bigger and not quite so … cluttered.”
“That’s good. Not looking forward to picking seaweed out of my teeth.”
I swallow a laugh and pull a solar light from my emergency pack. “It’s fresh water, loco mío.”
“Save the lessons for later.” Raid sticks close to my side as we move through the tunnel. “Hard to see.”
I shine the flashlight and illuminate the trail before us. The path is strangely smooth, as if many pairs of feet have trod it before us. Is it only the bodies of the Selk that have polished these stones? I shiver, though it isn’t cold in the corridor. “It’s brighter up ahead.”
“Good,” says Raid, as we step into the larger of the two caverns.
A cluster of Selk rest on the bank. At our approach, they turn their dark eyes on us. There’s interest, not fear, in their stares.
“Hello.” Raid steps forward, holding out his hand.
The Selk rise, pressed up against one another in a solid wall of sleek brown fur and searching snouts.
Friends. I force the thought forward.
Raid’s frozen in place, facing the barricade of Selk. I move close to his side. “Remember, let their thoughts flow over you. Don’
t fight it,” I whisper, as I survey the numerous pairs of eyes watching us.
“Above.”
The concept rings clear as a bell—a bell with a clapper that slams the inside of my skull. Out of the corner of my eye, I watch Raid clutch his head with both hands. But he, like me, remains on his feet.
“Yes, from above.” I eye the Selk to see if this thought holds any meaning for them.
“Air. Light. Above.”
I chase everything else from my thoughts. “Yes, humans. From above.”
“Below. Water.”
Despite my concerns, I feel a smile curve my lips. I sweep one hand before me to encompass the entire group of Selk. “You. You live below, in the water.”
“Good. Above. Below.”
Raid nods. He points one finger at the Selk, flips over his hand and taps his own chest. His lips move as he obviously sends forth a thought.
I place my hand on his other arm. “What are you saying?”
He gazes down at me, his good eye shining as dark and liquid as those of the Selk. “Us. I said ‘us.’”
I stare into his battered face for a moment. “Us,” I say aloud.
“Us.” The thought reverberates through my whole body as one by one the Selk waddle forward to form a circle around Raid and me.
“Now,” says Raid, taking hold of my hand. “We need to warn them.”
I take a deep breath and close my eyes. Focusing on thoughts of danger, of the need to move, to flee, I feel as if time has stopped. There is no past, no future, only now. Only the desperate need to communicate with these strange, wonderful creatures. To tell them of the threats to their existence. To save them.
Raid’s fingers tighten about mine. “I think they understand,” he says softly. “Maybe, just maybe … ”
A great tremor shifts the stone beneath my feet. “What the hell?”
“Blasting.” Raid wheels about, facing the far wall of the cavern. “The other cavern is just beyond that wall?”
“Yes.” The Selk slide to the lake edge and dive in, one after the other. I expect them to swim away, down one of their hidden passages, but instead their dark heads pop up, eyes fastened on us. They bob in the clear water, as if waiting.