Facsimile

by Vicki Weavil

  Waiting for us to join them.

  “Then we swim,” says Raid.

  ***

  We sit on two of the scattered boulders and yank off our footwear. I glance over at Raid. “Sorry ’bout Kam. I know he was your friend.”

  Raid tucks his socks into his boots. “We grew up together, and he was the only guy around my age. So yeah, we hung out. Not sure I’d call him a friend, though.” He gives me a slight smile before turning his attention to tugging off his jeans. “You, I consider a friend. And Emie. Kam was more like someone you deal with because you have to.”

  “Never knew you felt that way.” I shrug off my jacket, surreptitiously watching Raid. I’m mesmerized for a second by the sight of his long, well-muscled legs. “Anyway … ” He stands, stretching his arms, and I look everywhere but at his face. “It’s too bad Kam’s gone off the deep end.”

  “He was always ready to blow at the slightest thing.” Raid pulls his long-sleeved shirt over his head. He’s wearing nothing but his T-shirt and boxers now.

  I catch myself staring and shift my focus to the lake, where the Selk wait patiently. “You should leave your T-shirt on. Water’s not really cold, but you’re already shivering a bit.”

  “Might be shock.” Raid’s eyes focus on me like a laser as I slip off my jeans. “Or maybe excitement … ”

  “Feeling better, are you?” I move swiftly to the edge of the water, scooting on the stone ramp to slide into the lake. When I surface, Raid is watching me. “Well, get in, then. Work off some of that … energy.”

  “Just don’t let me drown before I get to see that outfit wet.”

  “I make no promises.” I tread water as two of the Selk circle me. “But these guys will keep you safe.”

  Raid grins, wincing slightly as he crosses to the water. After sliding down the stone ramp he grabs for one of the rocks edging the lake.

  As Dace did for me, I give him a quick lesson. Just like me, Raid swiftly picks up the basic mechanics of swimming. Once he’s moving easily, I take off. As my arms sweep through the water, I think of Dace saying I was half-fish.

  Dace and Emie—where are they? Are they safe? I picture my friends with guns pressed against their foreheads and increase the force of my strokes.

  Many of the Selk swim with us, circling to match our slower pace. When we reach the far wall the Selk dive and disappear, one after the other.

  I lift my head. “Under,” I instruct Raid, who looks nervous but dives anyway.

  We surface on the other side of the wall. Raid sputters, apparently having swallowed some water. He treads for a moment to catch his breath.

  “Okay?”

  “Fine.” He glances around the chamber. “This is where we were before.”

  “Yes.” I flip my braid, heavy with water, over my shoulder. “I’m heading for the shore.”

  Raid nods and sets off, his strong arms pulling him through the water with little need of assistance from his legs. I follow, flanked by several Selk.

  When we reach the shoreline, I glance back and notice the water creatures have taken up positions at various points in the small lake. The gentle motion of their tails keeps them upright, their sleek heads held high above the surface.

  I pull myself up and out of the water. Raid’s already crouched on the rocky shore, shaking out his black hair. He lifts his head and stares at the rock-studded wall, where something shifts amid the shadows. He leaps to his feet and runs toward the moving object.

  It’s Emie and Dace, tied back to back. Strips of some material—it looks like the blouse Emie was wearing over her tank top the last time I saw her—are tied around their heads, covering their mouths.

  I rush forward to pull the gag from Emie’s mouth while Raid does the same for Dace.

  “Outside,” Dace croaks. “They’ve got explosives.”

  “We know.” Raid fumbles with the knots in the ropes that bind Emie and Dace.

  “Kam’s gone nuts.” Emie’s wide eyes look like sunken black pools in her ashen face.

  “Seems like it.” I take her hand as Raid pulls the rope away. “Sorry you’ve had to deal with this alone. I should’ve been with you.”

  “No, better you weren’t.” Emie stands, leaning on me for support. “Dace and Raid tried to fight them off, you know.”

  I put my arm around her shoulders. “Heard you got a good jab in too.”

  A faint smile curls her lips. “Made him sing soprano.”

  Dace staggers to his feet. “Need to get out there and stop them.” He examines Raid. “Have any weapons?”

  Raid runs his hands down his torso. His wet shirt clings to his skin, outlining every rib and muscle. “On me? No.”

  “Me neither,” I say, plucking my soaked tank top away from my body. “But Calla was rounding up reinforcements. They might be here already.”

  “How’d she know where to find us?” Dace looks from me to Raid and back again. “You provide directions?”

  “Sort of,” says Raid.

  I give Emie a quick hug before pulling my arm away. “Why’d they tie you up in here? It would make more sense to keep you outside with them.”

  “Who says they’re acting like they have sense?” Dace shakes out his legs and arms. “Told us that we’d be bargaining chips if anyone showed up to try to stop them. They plan to blast the cavern entrance. Want to widen it, they claim. Not sure why.”

  “You didn’t hear that part.” Emie runs her fingers through her hair. “You were in the other rover. Kam said they’d set blasts that could trap us in the cavern if anyone tried to interfere. He was boasting about how his uncle knew all about explosives.”

  “But what’s the point?” Dace looks genuinely puzzled. “So they open up the cavern entrance. Then what?”

  Raid’s expression turns solemn. “They need a wider entry.” He motions toward the lake, where several Selk bob in the clear water. “They want to be able to drag one of the sonic cannons down here. Set it off and what do you think it might do?”

  “Scare them?” Emie’s gaze is focused on the lake. I realize it’s her first experience of the Selk. Her face, its warm brown tones restored, mirrors the same wonder and joy Raid displayed when he first encountered the water creatures.

  “Or kill them.” Dace drums his fingers against his thigh. “That kind of weapon, using sound waves, could really hurt a creature like the Selk.”

  We all turn to stare at the lake. Several pairs of dark eyes stare back.

  Friends, I think, sweeping my arm to include the four of us.

  Friends. Good.

  I reach for Emie’s hand as these thoughts ring through my head. She sinks to her knees, pulling me down beside her.

  “Don’t fight it,” I whisper. “Let it ripple through you.”

  She nods and, with my help, stumbles back to her feet.

  “It gets easier,” says Raid, laying one hand on Emie’s shoulder.

  Dace looks wistful. “Wish I could hear it.” He taps my arm. “Shouldn’t we do something about Kam and the others? See if Calla is here, at least?”

  I turn to him. His expression is a portrait of determination. “Good idea. Let’s get you two out of here and see what’s happening on the surface.”

  “Should we send the Selk away?” asks Raid.

  “I’ve been trying to pass along that thought, but they seem determined to stay,” I reply, with a quick glance at the lake. The Selk stare back at me, barely blinking.

  Dace has already crossed to the path that leads out of the cavern. “Come on, let’s get this sorted out,” he calls, striding forward as a great blast shakes the cavern.

  “Get down!” I scream, but it’s too late. A cascade of rocks showers the path. One fragment hits Dace with a glancing blow, knocking him to the ground.

  Raid’s feet barely appear to touch the ground as he dashes to Dace’s side. The clatter of stone hitting stone subsides. Emie and I reach Dace just as Raid
sweeps the last of the rock fragments from his body.

  Raid rests his ear against Dace’s chest. “He’s breathing.” He sits back on his heels, stripping off his T-shirt. “Emie, come here and hold this against that cut on his head. Got to stop the bleeding.”

  The Selk make a high-pitched sound that scrapes my nerves like a file. I turn my head to see they have all gathered at the shoreline.

  Alive. I concentrate all my energy on the thought. He’s alive.

  Their wails descend into a quiet keening.

  I continue to stare at them, these alien creatures.

  No, not so alien. Us, they claimed. We were different, our creation and development separated by space as well as species. But we shared things too. Enough to make our continued survival matter to both of us.

  “Ann!” Raid’s voice draws me back. “We need to get him help, but I’m afraid to move him without a medic checking him out first. If Calla followed our advice, if my mother’s here, she can tell us what to do.”

  Dace looks so fragile, lying on the ground with one arm twisted at an odd angle. Crimson blossoms through the fabric Emie holds against his head. She looks up at me, her lips tightened in distress.

  “Emie, you stay with him. We’ll go for help.” My voice sounds like it’s emerging from someone else’s throat. I squeeze my friend’s shoulder. “The Selk can comprehend whatever you think, to a degree. If we give a signal—a shout or something—you tell them to flee. Just think ‘flee’ or ‘escape’ as hard as you can. Understand?”

  She lifts her chin. “I’ll do it, I swear. No matter what.”

  “Good.” Raid leans in to kiss Emie on the cheek. “Kam never deserved you,” he adds with a warm smile.

  “No, he sure didn’t.” Emie strokes Dace’s still hand. “Go on. I’ll keep watch and listen for any signal.”

  I spare one last glance for Dace. His face has paled to the color of sand. “Raid—let’s go put a stop to this.”

  “How?” Emie’s voice quivers. I know the fear in her eyes isn’t for herself. That knowledge makes me stiffen my spine and meet Raid’s questioning eyes without hesitation.

  “I don’t know. But we’ll do it. We have to.”

  We climb over fallen rock to reach the passage that leads outside. Raid, shirtless, collects several cuts on his torso, as well as his legs and arms. One sharp fragment scrapes the pad of my heel and I leave a trail of bloody footprints to the entrance. But for some reason, the pain barely registers.

  The opening is wider than before. I shrink back against the stone wall of the passage to stay out of sight, then inch forward to peer around the corner. Raid moves in close behind me, his chest pressed so tightly against my shoulder I can feel his heartbeat.

  “See anything?” he whispers in my ear.

  “It’s a standoff. Kam and his crew on one side, hunched behind their rovers; Calla, my family, and some others taking cover behind their own vehicles. Both sides pointing laser guns at each other.” I turn my head to look up into Raid’s face. “Your mom is here.”

  A spasm of anxiety twitches Raid’s good eye. “We need her help with Dace. Does she have her med kit?”

  “Looks like it.”

  “So we gotta step out there. Tell them what’s up. Let me go first.” Raid brushes past me. “Hopefully they won’t shoot at anything that moves.”

  “Raid,” I say, “you’re not going anywhere without me.” I take his hand in a firm grip.

  He looks down at me. Even with his face marred by cuts and bruises, he still manages a seductive smile. “I like the sound of that.”

  We both exhale before stepping out into the light.

  “Hold your fire!” my father’s voice rings out.

  I blink in the sunlight. Still holding Raid’s hand, I clear my throat before raising my voice. “We need help. Dace is injured … ”

  Connor Patel jumps out from behind one of the rovers. Kam, who’s cradling something in his palms, stretches out his hands.

  “Stay put!” Kam waves one hand over his head. “I still have the detonator.”

  Patel freezes in place. “My nephew—he’s never harmed you.”

  “Really?” Kam saunters into the buffer zone that separates the opposing groups. “He and his little investigations just closed Earth’s doors to me.”

  “Would’ve been discovered anyway,” says my grandmother.

  I catch her eye. Her calm gaze steadies me. “Kam, Dace really does need help. Can we take Doctor Lin to him? Please?” I hate to beg Kam for anything, but this is Dace we’re talking about.

  I’d do anything for Dace. The thought slams against my skull like the voices of the Selk. I tighten my grip on Raid’s hand. Dace and Raid. This could be a problem. But not one that matters right now.

  “Kameron.” My mother’s honeyed tones immediately capture Kam’s attention. “I’m sure you don’t want Dace or anyone else to come to any real harm. Why not allow the doctor to take a look? The rest of us will stay here. As hostages, if you want.”

  My father lays a hand on Mom’s shoulder. “Yes, you can keep us here. We’ll even put down our weapons.” He holds up his gun and tosses it out into the open space between the two sides. “Just permit Doctor Lin to check on Dace.”

  “And Emie?” Mr. Winston casts me a frantic look.

  I lock my gaze with that of Emie’s father. “Emie’s okay. She’s watching over Dace, but she’s unharmed.” Refocusing on Kam and his followers, I drop Raid’s hand and step forward. “What do you say? Let the doctor take a look?”

  Kam’s fingers twitch, and a flash of fear crosses every face, even those in his own family. “Not the doctor. The colony can’t afford to lose a medic. Someone else can check, but no funny business. I swear I’ll blow those other charges if anyone pulls any crazy shit.” His gaze sweeps over the group that includes my parents and grandparents. “Anyone else here know first aid?”

  Calla steps forward, holding her gun over her head. “I do. Trained for basic emergency response in the military.”

  Kam studies the cyber for a second. “All right. Toss over your gun and grab the doc’s med kit.”

  Calla carefully lowers her gun to the ground and kicks it toward Kam.

  As Doctor Lin hands over the bag, she casts furtive glances at Raid, obviously concerned about his condition. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Raid mouth something at her. Reassuring her, no doubt.

  I look back at my family. They’re all staring at me, except for my mother, whose eyes remain fixed on Kam. I lift my hand and smile to indicate I’m fine.

  “So, here’s the deal.” Kam turns to his uncle, swiftly swapping the detonator for a laser pistol. “My guys are going to keep you lot under surveillance. And Uncle’s quite willing to blow those charges if anyone steps out of line.”

  Doug Frye’s skin is the color of dough. He glances from his brother to his nephew before cradling the detonator close to his chest.

  “I’m going to escort the cyber inside,” continues Kam, pointing the gun at Calla. “Just to make sure these two are telling the truth.” The pistol swings about to target Raid and me. “When we get back, we’ll see about finishing this.”

  “We could finish it now if you’d listen to sense,” says Mom. She walks right up to Kam.

  I’m not the only one to gasp when he points the gun at her.

  “Go ahead.” Mom tosses her gleaming blonde hair. She’s several inches shorter and many pounds lighter than Kam, but not one iota of fear shadows her face. “You think that will solve your problems, but it won’t. The only thing that’s going to help you now, Kameron Frye, is to put down that gun, tell your uncle to lay down the detonator, and all of you—just walk away.”

  Kam presses the barrel of the pistol against Mom’s forehead. “You need to back off.”

  Mom lifts one slender hand, but instead of pushing aside the gun, she lays her fingers on Kam’s wrist. “Really, Kameron, this is so melodramat
ic.” She strokes his arm. “Drop the gun, please, and I will walk back to join my family. We don’t want to destroy our friendship do we?”

  Kam’s eyes appear glazed. He lowers the pistol. Mom takes the opportunity to back up, step by step, until she bumps into Connor Patel who’s rushed forward to meet her. He wraps his arms tightly around her. I glance at my dad; he’s staring at his boots.

  “Okay, then. Get a move on.” Kam wheels around to face Raid and me. “You,” he motions toward Calla, “walk in front of me—behind those two.”

  “One moment.” My grandfather strips off his jacket. “Can I toss this to Raid? He looks cold.”

  Kam stares at Raid. “Yeah, what’s up with the half-naked thing, dude? Took a moment out of your rescue operation to screw Solano?”

  “We were swimming,” replies Raid calmly, his teeth chattering. It is colder outside than in the caverns, and what little clothes we’re wearing are still damp.

  “Throw it over here,” Kam instructs Grandfather. When the jacket sails to his feet, Kam snatches it up and searches its pockets before tossing it to Raid.

  “Put it on and move out.” Pointing the pistol toward the cavern entrance, Kam waits until Calla falls in behind Raid and me before striding forward. “Remember, I’m still back here, and I’m the one holding the gun.”

  “Yeah,” mutters Raid, as he follows me to the entrance. “Real brave, asshole.”

  I shush him and lead the way into the passage. With the entrance blasted open, it’s brighter than before, but I still keep one hand on the wall to guide my way down. “Watch for falling rock,” I call over my shoulder just as a chunk of Dace’s mineral splits off the ceiling and crashes at my feet.

  “Shut up and walk,” says Kam.

  I share a glance with Raid. There are three of us—four, once we reach the first cavern—and one of Kam. He has a laser gun, but …

  Raid nods, as if reading my mind. He taps my shoulder. “When we’re inside,” he whispers.

  “No talking!” yells Kam.

  The large chamber opens before us, the light from the shafts piercing the shadows. We pick our way over a barrier of stones to take the path down to the shore.